He also won the Sporting Group at Westminster in 2004, the first such victory for his breed, and amassed 51 Best in Show awards throughout his career.

He was handled by Scott Sommer, who also trained 2001 Westminster Best in Show winner J.R., a Bichon Frise with whom Stump lived for most of his life.

Little was done to prepare Stump for the show, and his owners and trainer had little expectation that he would perform well; Las Vegas odds indicated he had only a 275-to-1 chance to win.

[15] Stump regularly displayed a positive personality; Sommer said "I love his temperament and attitude toward life.

[15][23] Richard Sandomir of The New York Times wrote that Stump's "tail wagged constantly (as he) defeated a variety of elegant pointers, field dogs, gun dogs, hunters and retrievers, some with water-repellent coats, others with wire-haired coats".

[17] According to Brian J. Lowney of The Herald News, audiences and members of the media were "dumbfounded" by the fact that Stump defeated other better-known and more attractive sporting dogs.

[22] Dowd felt Stump deserved to win overall Best in Show at Westminster that year as well,[6] but the prize ultimately went to the Newfoundland Josh.

[28] In January 2006, he was transferred to Texas A&M University's Small Animal Hospital for treatment by veterinary specialists.

[32] After four years of retirement, Sommer entered Stump in the 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show,[3][10][14] which was held in New York City's Madison Square Garden on February 10, 2009, and included approximately 2,500 dogs and 170 breeds,[6][16] from as far away as Russia, Brazil,[13][33] and at least five other countries.

[10][14][16] Even after registering Stump, Sommer thought he might not take him, and would decide based on how good he looked in the day or two before the flight to get there.

[32] Prior to the 2009 Westminster contest, Stump had not attended another dog show or even worn a leash since his illness.

[10][14] Beth Dowd said, because Stump's health seemed had improved since his illness, they entered him in Westminster as "a trial run for possible competition in an upcoming special show".

Having just turned 10, a Sussex spaniel called Stump became the oldest best in show winner at the Westminster Kennel Club, ending his retirement last week and taking the big prize Tuesday night.

"[14] Likewise, David Frei, who had been announcing Westminster shows for 20 years, said of him: "Stump was a big crowd-pleaser.

[32] On February 10, 2009, Stump was named Best in Show, in part because judges felt he had a "cheerful and tractable disposition" in keeping with the breed's standard.

1 show dog in the nation at the time,[14][38] and Lincoln, a Griffon Bruxellois who was also widely considered a favorite.

[1][14] Two other dogs co-owned by Dowd placed in 2009's Westminster show: a Lakeland terrier named Ranger won Best of Breed, and Pixie, a Bichon, took fourth in her group.

[5][6] Unlike the previous Best in Show winner, the Beagle Uno, who spent a full year touring the country after his victory, Stump was expected to return home and do little traveling because of his advanced age and past health problems[14] and he retired to Sommer's home in Houston very shortly after the Best in Show win.

[3] However, some travel was planned for Stump representing the Moore County Kennel Club and participating in publicity for the New York-based therapy dog program Angel on a Leash.

[5][6] According to The Wall Street Journal, as of May 2009 Stump had accumulated over 440,000 miles from Continental Airlines frequent flyer program.

[40] He was also a representative of Take the Lead, an organization that provides services and support for people in the purebred dog business who have suffered life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

[4] He appeared on the cover of May/June 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine[4][41] and attended Houston's Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows in July 2009.

[49] Like Stump, Bean was considered a crowd favorite, and some commentators felt he should have won the overall Best in Show award.

[47][52] Stump was the favorite of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the celebrity sex therapist and author, who witnessed his Best in Show victory at Westminster.

[1] Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees baseball team and a regular Westminster attendee, was also particularly impressed with Stump.