New York Daily News

RUMOR HAS IT

German shepherd’s top dog at Westminste­r

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RUMOR THE German shepherd has become America’s top dog.

As a packed Madison Square Garden crowd howled and cheered around the ring, Rumor was picked as best in show at the Westminste­r Kennel Club on Tuesday night.

Rumor became just the second German shepherd to win the nation’s most prestigiou­s pooch parade, joining the fittingly named Manhattan in 1987. Rumor retired after a near-miss at Westminste­r last year, but she returned a month ago to give it another try.

The 5-year-old is named for the Adele hit song “Rumor Has It.” This was the 104th career win for Rumor, and handler and coowner Kent Boyles said earlier in the day that this would definitely, for real, be her last major show.

Rumor just missed winning 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, Wis., 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.

There were nearly 2,800 dogs entered in the 141st Westminste­r canine competitio­n, spread across the 202 eligible breeds and varieties.

Rumor beat out a Norwegian elkhound, a Pekingese, a miniature poodle, an Irish setter, a boxer and a Norwich terrier in the final ring.

The German shepherd is a favorite breed among the New York crowd.

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.

Many of the pooches 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 Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The solemn tribute is considered by many the most cherished memory at Westminste­r.

 ??  ?? Rumor, a 5-year-old German shepherd, laps the competitio­n with help from handler and co-owner Kent Boyles (inset) to win best in show during Wesminster Kennel Club at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
Rumor, a 5-year-old German shepherd, laps the competitio­n with help from handler and co-owner Kent Boyles (inset) to win best in show during Wesminster Kennel Club at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

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