Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee
Encyclopedia
Ch.
Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee (born December 1, 1998), also known as Stump, is a 50 lb. male Sussex Spaniel
from Houston, Texas
, who was named the 2009 Best In Show winner at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
. Stump is the first of his breed to be awarded that honor and, at 10 years old, the oldest to win the prize.
by Ch. Three D Genghis Khan, and his dam
was Ch. Clussexx Sprinkled With Dew; his breeders were Douglas Horn, Douglas Johnson and Dee Duffy. He was nicknamed "Stump" because he is brown, has stubby legs and resembles a tree stump
.
Stump is owned by Cecilia Ruggles and Beth Dowd and handled by Scott Sommer, with whom he lives in Houston along with J.R., a Bichon Frise
who won the Westminster Dog Show in 2001 and is also trained by Sommer.
Stump won the Sporting Group
at Westminster in 2004, a year that saw him accumulate 50 "best in show" wins. After those victories, he was retired from competition. In January 2006 Stump was hospitalized with a serious illness, with what in retrospect turned out to be a hard-to-diagnose case of multiple bacterial infections
. After a visit to Brittmoore Animal Hospital in Houston, Stump was referred to clinicians at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
, and arrived there with "a body-wide infection, infection on his heart valves, fluid in his lungs, and disseminated intravascular coagulation
(a blood coagulation
disorder); he spent 13 days there, 12 of which were in intensive care.
Stump's 2009 Westminster victory was against 2500 dogs from 170 different breeds;it was his 51st career "best in show" win. Sommer said he expected Stump to return home and do little traveling following his victory, although his owner expected some travel representing the club and participating in publicity for Angel on a Leash
, a New York-based program which sends therapy dogs into hospitals. According to The Wall Street Journal
, as of May 2009 Stump has accumulated over 440,000 miles from Continental Airlines
frequent flyer program
.
Stump has sired three pups named Root, Forest and Myrtle. Doug Johnson, Stump's co-breeder, also bred Brady, the Clumber Spaniel
who won Westminster's Best in Show award in 1996.
at Westminster in 2004. Stump's appearance at the 2009 Westminster Dog Show was a last-minute decision; Sommer waited until February 4, 2009, before deciding to show Stump there, less than one week before the show began. Sommer did little more to prepare him than walking him around his Houston driveway. Westminster Judge Sarl Brewster Tietjen said of the dog's long absence from the showing scene, "To bring a dog into the Garden
who hasn't been showing, (Sommer) was a little insane."
Stump was characterized in the media as a crowd favorite at the 2009 Westminister show. Stump was named "Best in Show" in part because judges felt he had a "cheerful and tractable disposition" in keeping with the breed's standard. Among the front-runners Stump defeated were Tiger Woods
the Scottish deerhound
, Spirit the Giant Schnauzer
and Lincoln the Brussels griffon
. Judge Tietjen, who did not make her decision to crown Stump the victor until the last moment, said: “I didn’t know who he was or how old he was. He’s just everything that you’d want in the breed, and I couldn’t say no to him.” Stump became the oldest dog to win the title, a distinction previously held by Kirby
, an eight-year-old Papillon
and the 1999 winner.
, the celebrity sex therapist, who witnessed his "Best in Show" victory. During the February 11, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert
, whose character
often complains when passed over for awards, expressed anger Stump won the Westminster dog show instead of him; Colbert said of the Sussex Spaniel, "What does he have that I don't have? Look, my ear is floppy. Look how firm my haunches are! Look how silky my coat is! The secret? I crack a raw egg in my bowl."
Championship (dog)
Championships are awarded to dogs who have passed through a process of selection at dog shows. Traditionally, a championship was received at a conformation show, but championships are now offered for dogs who have attained a high degree of perfection in other dog sports as well.-The conformation...
Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee (born December 1, 1998), also known as Stump, is a 50 lb. male Sussex Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel is a breed of dog developed in Sussex in southern England. It is a low, compact spaniel and is similar in appearance to the Clumber Spaniel. They can be slow paced, but can have a clownish and energetic temperament...
from Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, who was named the 2009 Best In Show winner at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day, all-breed benched conformation show that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City every year. The first Westminster show was held in 1877....
. Stump is the first of his breed to be awarded that honor and, at 10 years old, the oldest to win the prize.
Biography
Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee was siredFather
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
by Ch. Three D Genghis Khan, and his dam
Mother
A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...
was Ch. Clussexx Sprinkled With Dew; his breeders were Douglas Horn, Douglas Johnson and Dee Duffy. He was nicknamed "Stump" because he is brown, has stubby legs and resembles a tree stump
Tree stump
After a tree has been cut and felled, the stump or tree stump is usually a small remaining portion of the trunk with the roots still in the ground. Stumps may show the age-defining rings of a tree. The study of these rings is known as dendrochronology....
.
Stump is owned by Cecilia Ruggles and Beth Dowd and handled by Scott Sommer, with whom he lives in Houston along with J.R., a Bichon Frise
Bichon Frisé
A Bichon Frise , is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese.-Etymology and History:...
who won the Westminster Dog Show in 2001 and is also trained by Sommer.
Stump won the Sporting Group
Sporting Group
thumb|right|Sporting Group judging at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2010Sporting Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. Not all kennel clubs include the same breeds in the Sporting Group, and some kennel clubs do...
at Westminster in 2004, a year that saw him accumulate 50 "best in show" wins. After those victories, he was retired from competition. In January 2006 Stump was hospitalized with a serious illness, with what in retrospect turned out to be a hard-to-diagnose case of multiple bacterial infections
Pathogenic bacteria
Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that cause bacterial infection. This article deals with human pathogenic bacteria.Although the vast majority of bacteria are harmless or beneficial, quite a few bacteria are pathogenic...
. After a visit to Brittmoore Animal Hospital in Houston, Stump was referred to clinicians at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is a college of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.Founded in 1916, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is one of only 31 colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada. It...
, and arrived there with "a body-wide infection, infection on his heart valves, fluid in his lungs, and disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation , also known as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy or consumptive coagulopathy, is a pathological activation of coagulation mechanisms that happens in response to a variety of diseases. DIC leads to the formation of small blood clots inside the blood...
(a blood coagulation
Coagulation
Coagulation is a complex process by which blood forms clots. It is an important part of hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel, wherein a damaged blood vessel wall is covered by a platelet and fibrin-containing clot to stop bleeding and begin repair of the damaged vessel...
disorder); he spent 13 days there, 12 of which were in intensive care.
Stump's 2009 Westminster victory was against 2500 dogs from 170 different breeds;it was his 51st career "best in show" win. Sommer said he expected Stump to return home and do little traveling following his victory, although his owner expected some travel representing the club and participating in publicity for Angel on a Leash
Angel on a Leash
The Angel on a Leash is a charity that has trained Therapy Dogs that work in health care facilities, schools, rehabilitation and hospice, extended care, correctional facilities and crisis intervention. The charity is there for people who need a lift of spirit in life and health...
, a New York-based program which sends therapy dogs into hospitals. According to The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, as of May 2009 Stump has accumulated over 440,000 miles from Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
frequent flyer program
Frequent flyer program
A frequent flyer program is a loyalty program offered by many airlines. Typically, airline customers enrolled in the program accumulate frequent flyer miles corresponding to the distance flown on that airline or its partners. There are other ways to accumulate miles...
.
Stump has sired three pups named Root, Forest and Myrtle. Doug Johnson, Stump's co-breeder, also bred Brady, the Clumber Spaniel
Clumber Spaniel
The Clumber Spaniel is a breed of dog of the spaniel type, developed in the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the spaniels, and comes in predominantly one colour. The name of the breed is taken from Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. It is a gundog that specialises in hunting in heavy cover. They...
who won Westminster's Best in Show award in 1996.
Westminster
Stump won the Sporting GroupSporting Group
thumb|right|Sporting Group judging at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2010Sporting Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. Not all kennel clubs include the same breeds in the Sporting Group, and some kennel clubs do...
at Westminster in 2004. Stump's appearance at the 2009 Westminster Dog Show was a last-minute decision; Sommer waited until February 4, 2009, before deciding to show Stump there, less than one week before the show began. Sommer did little more to prepare him than walking him around his Houston driveway. Westminster Judge Sarl Brewster Tietjen said of the dog's long absence from the showing scene, "To bring a dog into the Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
who hasn't been showing, (Sommer) was a little insane."
Stump was characterized in the media as a crowd favorite at the 2009 Westminister show. Stump was named "Best in Show" in part because judges felt he had a "cheerful and tractable disposition" in keeping with the breed's standard. Among the front-runners Stump defeated were Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods (dog)
Ch. Gayleward's Tiger Woods, also known as Tiger Woods is a male Scottish Deerhound American show dog, bred and owned by Gayle Bontecou and handled by Clifford W. Steele.-History:...
the Scottish deerhound
Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound, or simply the Deerhound, is a breed of hound , once bred to hunt the Red Deer by coursing.- Appearance :The Scottish Deerhound resembles a rough-coated Greyhound. It is however, larger in size and bone...
, Spirit the Giant Schnauzer
Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzer is a large, powerful, and compact breed of dog. It is one of the three Schnauzer breeds. Like most large breeds, the Giant Schnauzer needs a fair amount of exercise.-Appearance:...
and Lincoln the Brussels griffon
Griffon Bruxellois
The Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon is a breed of toy dog, named for their city of origin: Brussels, Belgium. The Griffon Bruxellois may refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabançon...
. Judge Tietjen, who did not make her decision to crown Stump the victor until the last moment, said: “I didn’t know who he was or how old he was. He’s just everything that you’d want in the breed, and I couldn’t say no to him.” Stump became the oldest dog to win the title, a distinction previously held by Kirby
Loteki Supernatural Being
Ch. Loteki Supernatural Being also known as Kirby, a Papillon, best known for being the only dog to have won all three major international dog shows in the same year and being the oldest winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at eight years old, until his record was broken in 2009 by...
, an eight-year-old Papillon
Papillon (dog)
The papillon , also called the Continental Toy Spaniel, is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type. One of the oldest of the toy Spaniels, it derives its name from its characteristic butterfly-like look of the long and fringed hair on the ears. A papillon with dropped ears is called a phalène...
and the 1999 winner.
In popular culture
Stump was the favorite of Dr. Ruth WestheimerRuth Westheimer
Ruth Westheimer is an American sex therapist, media personality, and author. Best known as Dr. Ruth, the New York Times described her as a "Sorbonne-trained psychologist who became a kind of cultural icon in the 1980s...
, the celebrity sex therapist, who witnessed his "Best in Show" victory. During the February 11, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
, whose character
Stephen Colbert (character)
The Reverend / Sir / Dr. / Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., brain-child of Google, is the persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. Described as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot", the character is a self-obsessed right-wing...
often complains when passed over for awards, expressed anger Stump won the Westminster dog show instead of him; Colbert said of the Sussex Spaniel, "What does he have that I don't have? Look, my ear is floppy. Look how firm my haunches are! Look how silky my coat is! The secret? I crack a raw egg in my bowl."