[Purple]

Rufus enjoying a dog's life as Westminster champion, could a beagle be next?

By BEN WALKER
AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rufus leaned in for a better look at the other dogs. Suddenly, the colored bull terrier with the football-sized noggin pitched forward, falling off his tabletop and tumbling to the ground.
The popular Westminster winner was OK, with only a scuffed-up paw to show from his 31/2-foot slip over the weekend. Barking, he was soon sipping water from a champagne glass across the street from Madison Square Garden, promoting America's No. 1 dog show.
"He's got a great life,'' said owner Barbara Bishop, in whose bed Rufus sleeps. "He wakes up around 11, gets a couple of cookies and goes with me to the grocery store. Everywhere we go, people want to pet him.''
Nearly 8 now, the 2006 champ is long retired from the show ring. Starting Monday morning, another 2,627 dogs will try to follow Rufus' path to the prize silver bowl.
Among the leading candidates -- for once -- is a beagle.
The best in show award has been presented 100 times at Westminster and a beagle has never won. Part of the problem is the breed's playful, friendly nature.
"Great show dogs often have an air about them. It's like this is their world and we're just living in it,'' Westminster TV host David Frei said. "But beagles want to be in our world.''
They also have another disadvantage: They're far from the fancy-cut, froufrou dogs that often win.
"To some, a beagle may not look as spectacular as the Afghan hound, flying around the ring with all that hair,'' Frei said.
Uno, almost 3 with pleading eyes and plenty of tail-wagging personality, could break out of the Westminster doghouse. He might follow the lead of Underdog, the Disney movie last year based on the old cartoon -- no beagle has even reached the seven-dog best in show ring since 1939.
"To have the general public see an average dog going and competing and actually winning would send a signal that everyone can do it,'' said Eddie Dziuk, one of Uno's co-owners.


http://www.dailymail.com/News/200802100175

[Michele]

YAY Rufus!!

[DivineOblivion19]

So awesome!

Congrats to Rufus!

[Purple]

Am I the only one who saw the humor in this?

Rufus leaned in for a better look at the other dogs. Suddenly, the colored bull terrier with the football-sized noggin pitched forward, falling off his tabletop and tumbling to the ground.

[DivineOblivion19]

Nope! That's why I was laughing.

[Ironsides]

Thats how I always describe my dogs to a stranger... and then they always know what kind of dog they are...
"you know, the bull terrier, with the football shaped noggin"

[Purple]

I say he looks like the Target dog, without the red circle!

[CoolHandJean]

I usually saySpuds MacKenzie, but most people don't know that anymore. lol. So, I say Patton's dog, and they still don't know. lol.

[joethebully]

I am somehow not getting messages in my email since I was sick for 2 weeks. Can someone tell me what I need to do?