Rocky Top's Sundance Kid

Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid (aka: "Rufus") (April 8, 2000 – August 9, 2012) was a Bull Terrier who is best known for being the 2006 Best In Show winner at the Westminster Dog Show handled by Kathy Kirk PHA. He is the first Colored Bull Terrier to win Best in Show at Westminster, with the only other victory for his breed going to a White Bull Terrier in 1918. He also won Best In Show at the National Dog show, and on retirement trained as a therapy dog. He is the most successful Colored Bull Terrier show dog of all time.[3]

Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid
Rocky Top's Sundance Kid visiting the Bloomberg building in New York City
Other name(s)Rufus
SpeciesCanis lupus familiaris
BreedBull Terrier
SexMale
Born(2000-04-08)April 8, 2000[1]
DiedAugust 9, 2012(2012-08-09) (aged 12)
OccupationShow dog
therapy dog
TitleBest In Show at the
Westminster Dog Show
Term2006–2007
PredecessorCh. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses (German Shorthaired Pointer)
SuccessorCh. Felicity's Diamond Jim (English Springer Spaniel)
OwnerBarbara and Tom Bishop
Parent(s)Sire: Ch. Einstein The Joker
Dam: Ch. Rocky Tops Ulster Annie[1]
Awards35 Best in Show awards[2]
AKC Award for Canine Excellence

Early life

Rufus' sire was Einstein the Joker, whose most notable win was for becoming the youngest Bull Terrier World Champion at the World Dog Show in 1995.[4]

He lived with his owners, Barbara and Tom Bishop, since he was 10 weeks old.[2]

Show history
Rocky Top's Sundance Kid visiting the Bloomberg building in New York City

By the age of thirteen and a half month, Rufus had earned his Championship title and Register of Merit.[3]

In 2005 Rufus won Best in Show at The National Dog Show, hosted by The Kennel Club of Philadelphia.[3]

Also in 2005 Rufus won Best In Show at the Morris & Essex Kennel Club Dog Show, and 1st in the terrier Group at the Eukanuba Championship dog show in 2005.

In judging for Best in Show at Westminster, Rufus was joined by a Golden Retriever (Ch. Chuckanut Party Favour O' Nove), a Dalmatian (Ch. Merry Go Round Mach Ten), a Rottweiler (Ch. Carter's Noble Shaka Zulu), a Scottish Deerhound, a Pug (Ch. Kendoric's Riversong Mulroney) and an Old English Sheepdog.[5] Of all the breeds being judged, only the Pug and the Sheepdog had previously won Best in Show. Judging was conducted by James Reynolds, with the crowd favouring the Golden Retriever. The Dalmatian was owned by Dick and Linda Stark who also own the German Shorthaired Pointer Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses, who won the previous year's Best in Show. When the judge announced the winner, it seemed like an upset, although the terrier group is the most successful at Westminster. On winning, Rufus became the first Colored Bull Terrier to take the title, with the only other Bull Terrier to take the title being Ch. Haymarket Faultless, a White Bull Terrier, in 1918.[6][7] Speaking of Rufus, judge James Reynolds described him as "The classic profile of a colored bull terrier."[8] Following his win, owner Barbara Bishop announced his retirement from the show ring.[8]

Rufus retired as the most successful Colored Bull Terrier of all time, with 35 all breed Best in Shows, 135 Best in Group firsts and the BTCA National Speciality on three occasions.[3]

Retirement

After winning at Westminster, Rufus was presented with a proclamation by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders at a meeting in Freehold, New Jersey.[2]

Following his retirement, Rufus retrained as a therapy dog, visiting schools, nursing homes and senior citizen programs. Rufus was the center star for his debut on Animal Planet's "Dogs 101". In 2010, he was one of the winners at the 11th AKC Humane Fund Awards Award for Canine Excellence (ACE).[9]

Death

Rufus died on August 9, 2012, aged 12 years.[10]

References
  1. "2006 Best in Show". Westminster Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  2. Caiazza, Tom (2 March 2006). "Holmdel pet is top dog". Tri-Town News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  3. "Best in Show". The National Dog Show. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  4. "Einstein the Joker". bullterrier.dk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  5. Branch, John (14 February 2006). "DOG SHOW; Hairspray and Gel Keep Fur From Flying at Westminster". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  6. Branch, John (15 February 2006). "Westminster Result Feels Like an Upset, but Isn't". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  7. "Bull Terriers Bid For Show Honors" (PDF). The New York Times. 19 February 1919. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  8. "Rufus the colored bull terrier wins Best in Show at Westminster". USA Today. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  9. "Five Canine Heroes Honored With AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  10. Winning bull terrier, Keyport local Rufus dies Asbury Park Press, 10:22 AM, Aug 29, 2012
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