Rumor the German shepherd wins best in show at Westminster
In a surprise comeback that stunned the dog-loving world, Rumor the German shepherd came back from retirement to take the crown of America's top dog at the Westminster Kennel Club show in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
Rumor - named after Adele's single 'Rumour Has It' - is just the second-ever German shepherd at the event since it began in 1877 - and took top place one year after a near-miss on the very same green carpet last year.
The win, which comes after Adele took home five Grammy Awards on Sunday, was 'Unbelievable,' handler and co-owner Kent Boyles said.
Rumor the German shepherd (pictured with handler and co-owner Kent Boyles) celebrates after winning Best in Show at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Rumor narrowly missed out on the prize last year
Rumor had 'retired' after last year's defeat, but Boyles decided to give her one more try for the prize after she failed to give birth to puppies during her downtime. She is only the second German shepherd to win, after a dog called Manhattan in 1987
Boyles says that Rumor is very definitely retired after this win. She is named after the Adele song 'Rumour Has It' - and coincidentally Adele swept up five Grammies on Sunday
In a year that's seen lots of late, startling twists in sports - think Patriots, Cubs and Cavaliers - Rumor pulled something of a shocker.
She'd been at home in Wisconsin for months, a house pet headed toward having puppies, when she suddenly jumped back into the show ring in January.
The five-year-old dog beat out a Norwegian elkhound, a Pekingese, a miniature poodle, an Irish setter, a boxer and a Norwich terrier in the final ring. The Irish setter - called Adrian - finished second.
'The German shepherd standard talks about quality and nobility,' judge Thomas Bradley III said. 'When you recognize it, it hits you at home, and that's what it really is. She is just magnificent.'
This was the 104th career win for Rumor, and earlier in the day, Boyles said that this would definitely, for real, be her last major show.
'She's going to be relaxing for a while,' Boyles said after the win, but ultimately, there are 'puppies in her future.'
Clearly the crowd favorite, Rumor came out flying into the best-of-seven final ring to fans whistling and calling her name.
Rumor is seen here in action, entering the arena for the Best in Show competition. She was clearly the crowd's favorite, and came out to cheers and whistles
German shepherds are particularly favored by New York crowds, perhaps because of the association with the city's fire departments and police officers, so the Madison Square Garden crowd were happy to see her
Rumor raised up for a well-deserved treat right after the win. Moments later, as Boyles did post-show interviews, Rumor spotted him and ran toward the man who guided her to victory.
She is only the second German shepherd to go best in show at the Garden, after Manhattan, who stole the show in 1987.
There were nearly 2,800 dogs entered in the 141st Westminster canine competition, spread across the 202 eligible breeds and varieties.
But the moment any German shepherd steps into the ring at the Garden, the crowd goes crazy - New Yorkers just love 'em.
Some say it's because rooting for a German shepherd is the same as putting on an NYPD or FDNY hat, standing up for a dog that stood tall at a time of the city's greatest need.
'My sentiments, exactly,' Boyles said.
While German shepherds haven't won a lot here, many of them were on the green carpet of the center ring in 2002 when Westminster honored search and rescue dogs for their tireless work at the World Trade Center and Pentagon following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The solemn tribute is considered by many the most cherished memory ever at Westminster.
'They're loyal, dependable dogs that you can count on,' Boyles said.
Handler and co-owner Kent Boyles guides Rumor, a German shepherd around the ring for the Best in Show competition
Rumor wasn't the only dog on show, of course. Here, handler Diego Garcia lifts up boxer Devlin after she won the working group competition
Left: People watch as Taylor, a Glen of Imaal terrier, competes with the terrier group. Right: Chuckie, a Pekingese, walks behind his handler during the Best in Show competition
Rumor nearly won Westminster last year. She came to town as the nation's No. 1 show dog with more than 100 overall ribbons, but was beaten in a surprise by a German shorthaired pointer named CJ.
In fact, when the judge began to announce his champion pick with 'German sh...,' Boyles took a step forward, anticipating the prize.
That was supposed to be Rumor's last show, and she was set to head home with Boyles to Edgerton, Wisconsin, to be a house pet and have puppies. But she didn't conceive and late in the year, Boyles thought twice about Rumor's retirement.
'She liked to show and was in good shape, so we thought, why not?' he said.
Rumor went back on the circuit in January for ten more shows. She won the herding group Monday night at the Garden, beating top show favorite, Preston the puli.
She topped that with the ultimate win, rewarding the faith German shepherd fans always show in their favored breed.
'It's a recognizable dog, people have liked them for a long, long time,' WKC President Sean McCarthy said. 'I think it goes back to Rin Tin Tin.'
Rumor poses for photos after winning Best in Show at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
A handler guides a mastiff around the ring during the working group competition in the show