My Own Brucie
Encyclopedia
Ch.
My Own Brucie (May 4, 1935–June 9, 1943), was a male American Cocker Spaniel
who was the Best in Show
at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
in both 1940 and 1941. He was sired by popular sire
Red Brucie and died as a result of a kidney and liver ailment. Obituaries described him as the most photographed dog in the world.
.
My Own Brucie was reported to have a stubborn streak, and on occasion even his owner could not change the dog's mind.
. In 1939, he won his first group at Westminster and went on to win a best in show at the Morris and Essex Kennel Club.
In the best in show class at Westminster in 1940, Brucie faced a Saluki
, a Brussels Griffon, a Boxer
, a Chow Chow
and a Smooth Fox Terrier. The terrier
, Ch. Normay Saddler had previously been judged best in show at 51 different shows. Dr. Samuel Milbank conducted the judging and said of My Own Brucie as "He was in the most beautiful bloom, he is a real champion."
Brucie was the first dog to win the Sporting Group
and the McGivern Challenge Bowl at Westminster on successive occasions, and one of only two dogs to have won this group on three successive occasions. The other dog to match that achievement is Gordon Setter
Ch. Bit O Gold Titan Treasure between 1997 and 1999.
At the time of his victory at Westminster in 1941, Brucie lived part–time at a Long Island
kennel and part– at his owner's home in Poughkeepsie, New York. His owner, Herman Mellenthin, had refused several large offers for him, including one for $10,000 and one for $15,000. Following his third victory, he and his owner were honored with a testimonial dinner in his hometown. These victories came during a period when the American Cocker Spaniel
was the most popular breed in America.
following the earlier death of Herman Mellenthin in 1942. His death was considered untimely as he had only reached middle age for his breed.
Following his death, obituaries were published on the front page of the New York Evening Sun,, the New York Times, and The Montreal Gazette, which called him the most photographed dog in the world.
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...
My Own Brucie (May 4, 1935–June 9, 1943), was a male American Cocker Spaniel
American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is a breed of sporting dog. It is a spaniel type dog that is closely related to the English Cocker Spaniel; the two breeds diverged during the 20th century due to differing breed standards in America and the UK...
who was the Best in Show
Conformation show
Conformation shows, also referred to as breed shows, are a kind of dog show in which a judge familiar with a specific dog breed evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.A...
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....
in both 1940 and 1941. He was sired by popular sire
Popular sire effect
The Popular sire effect occurs when a show dog with desirable physical attributes is bred repeatedly. This can cause unknown undesirable genetic traits in the stud to spread rapidly within the gene pool. It can also reduce genetic diversity by the exclusion of other males...
Red Brucie and died as a result of a kidney and liver ailment. Obituaries described him as the most photographed dog in the world.
Early life
My Own Brucie was the youngest son of Red Brucie, a dog that sired 36 champions. Red Brucie was considered by dog breeders of the time to be the father of the modern Cocker Spaniel, something which is referred to as the popular sire effectPopular sire effect
The Popular sire effect occurs when a show dog with desirable physical attributes is bred repeatedly. This can cause unknown undesirable genetic traits in the stud to spread rapidly within the gene pool. It can also reduce genetic diversity by the exclusion of other males...
.
My Own Brucie was reported to have a stubborn streak, and on occasion even his owner could not change the dog's mind.
Show Career
In 1938, he became Best American Bred Sporting Dog of the Year, awarded by the American Kennel ClubAmerican Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...
. In 1939, he won his first group at Westminster and went on to win a best in show at the Morris and Essex Kennel Club.
In the best in show class at Westminster in 1940, Brucie faced a Saluki
Saluki
The Saluki, also known as the Royal Dog of Egypt and Persian Greyhound is one of the oldest known breeds of domesticated dog. From the period of the Middle Kingdom onwards, Saluki-like animals appear on the ancient Egyptian tombs of 2134 BC. They have connections both to the Bible and Imperial...
, a Brussels Griffon, a Boxer
Boxer (dog)
Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers are brachycephalic , and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism , very strong jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to...
, a Chow Chow
Chow Chow
Chow chow is a breed of dog that was developed in China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan , which literally means "puffy-lion dog".- Appearance :...
and a Smooth Fox Terrier. The terrier
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
, Ch. Normay Saddler had previously been judged best in show at 51 different shows. Dr. Samuel Milbank conducted the judging and said of My Own Brucie as "He was in the most beautiful bloom, he is a real champion."
Brucie was the first dog to win 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...
and the McGivern Challenge Bowl at Westminster on successive occasions, and one of only two dogs to have won this group on three successive occasions. The other dog to match that achievement is Gordon Setter
Gordon Setter
A Gordon Setter is a large breed of dog, a member of the setter family that also includes both the better-known Irish Setter and the English Setter. Setter breeds are classified as members of either the Sporting or Gundog Group depending on the national kennel club or council. The original purpose...
Ch. Bit O Gold Titan Treasure between 1997 and 1999.
At the time of his victory at Westminster in 1941, Brucie lived part–time at a Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
kennel and part– at his owner's home in Poughkeepsie, New York. His owner, Herman Mellenthin, had refused several large offers for him, including one for $10,000 and one for $15,000. Following his third victory, he and his owner were honored with a testimonial dinner in his hometown. These victories came during a period when the American Cocker Spaniel
American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is a breed of sporting dog. It is a spaniel type dog that is closely related to the English Cocker Spaniel; the two breeds diverged during the 20th century due to differing breed standards in America and the UK...
was the most popular breed in America.
After Westminster
By the time of his death, at the age of 8 to a kidney and liver ailment, he was owned by Sgt. and Mrs. Peter Garvan of Roslyn, New YorkRoslyn, New York
Roslyn is a village in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,770...
following the earlier death of Herman Mellenthin in 1942. His death was considered untimely as he had only reached middle age for his breed.
Following his death, obituaries were published on the front page of the New York Evening Sun,, the New York Times, and The Montreal Gazette, which called him the most photographed dog in the world.