BY ELINOR J. BRECHER
Miami Herald

The Madison Square Garden crowd went wild for the golden retriever and the old English sheepdog.

But in the end, best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show went to a breed that hasn't won since 1918: a Colored Bull Terrier.

His owners, Tom and Barbara Bishop of Homedale, N.J., screamed, wept and all but collapsed in the stands when the tall dapper Canadian judge walked toward their dog Rufus bearing the coveted purple and gold ribbon and silver trophy.

''This is like having Lance Armstrong for a son,'' said Tom, a 50-year-old chemical plant maintenance supervisor in a corduroy jacket.

Rufus, whose show name is Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, is a ''coach potato'' at home, according to Barbara.

In addition to the golden retriever and the old English sheepdog, Rufus beat out a rottweiler, a Scottish Deer Hound, a Dalmation and a pug in the final round of judging, which ended just before 11 p.m. Tuesday at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The nation's premiere dog show marked its 130th year this year and expected an audience of 40,000 by Tuesday night's conclusion.

Nancy Isakson of Fort Lauderdale, whose bulldog, Cali -- Ch. Emerald California Connection -- won Best of Opposite Sex in Monday's competition, said ``He totally deserved to win. Just look at him.''

Cali was the first South Florida dog to take Best of Opposite Sex -- but she wasn't the last.

On Tuesday, Sonny -- Ch. KD's Sundance Kid -- the pink-nosed Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, stood proudly in Ring 3, the top male dog in his breed, just behind the female Toller that won Best of Breed.

Sonny's little sister, Sizzle -- Ch. KD's Too Hot to Handle -- made the final cut but finished out of the ribbons.

Their owner, Alyson Casper, of Davie, was thrilled. She handled Sizzle in the ring while a professional handler from Jacksonville, 46-year-old bodybuilder Kay Peiser, showed Sonny. ''I'm very, very happy,'' said Casper, a workers' compensation case manager. ``Best of Opposite Sex is a hell of a way to go out.''

Sonny retires from conformation competition -- dog shows based on appearance -- but he'llcompete in agility meets and on a flyball team. (Flyball is a dog-and-ball sport.) Sizzle probably will return to Westminster next year.

''This was definitely worth the trip,'' said Casper's boyfriend, architect Mark Fine, who accompanied Casper and her son, Gavin, 12, to the show.

Collies owned by Broward County veterinarians Dr. Suzy Sarna and Dr. Cindi Bossert, competed Tuesday but didn't make the cut.

Sarna said she awakened Tuesday morning to find that her dog, Lacey, had dined on one of her blue, high-heeled shoes during the night.

She planned to wear them with a blue dress Tuesday night for the Best of Group/Best in Show competitions.

''Everybody dresses up,'' she explained. ``People come in tuxedos and evening gowns.''

Lacey had had a relaxed morning before arriving for her meet, said Sarna, who handled her in the ring, wearing royal blue, which ``looks best with my dog.''

Lacey ``ate breakfast, then got back in bed and went to sleep.''

Bossert had planned to show three dogs, but one was snowbound on the Scottsville, Ky., farm she owns with her husband, Jim Efron.

''It's the first time in 15 years that we're leaving here without a medal,'' said Bossert, a mother of three.

The final South Florida dogs of the day, Valerie -- Ch. Sunrise Valerie MS -- a miniature, smooth-coated dachshund from the Redland, and Ricky -- Ch. Starlights Olympic Record Holder -- a Fort Lauderdale Weinmaraner, finished out of the medals.

Valerie, who belongs to feed-store owner Cliff Simones and partner, Robbie Addison, made the final cut.

Ricky, who belongs to attorney Debra Rochlin, had a mishap with a branch while romping in the snow Sunday, and had a noticeable nick under his left eye.

Every flaw is visible on silvery-taupe, short-haired Weimaraners, said his handler, Jennifer Bittner of St. Augustine.

Not so on many others breeds because ``a coat hides everything.''

http://www.macon.com/mld/tallahassee/news/nation/13879059.htm

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