- My Own Brucie
-
Ch. My Own Brucie 
Born May 4, 1935 Died June 9, 1943 (aged 8) Occupation American Cocker Spaniel show dog Home town Poughkeepsie, New York Title Best In Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Term 1940–1941 Predecessor Ferry v. Rauhfelsen of Giralda (Doberman Pinscher) Successor Ch. Wolvey Pattern of Edgerstoune (West Highland White Terrier) Parents Ch. Red Brucie (sire)
Ch. My Own Lady Huntington (dam)Ch. My Own Brucie (May 4, 1935–June 9, 1943),[1][2] was a male American Cocker Spaniel who was the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in both 1940 and 1941. He was sired by popular sire Red Brucie and died as a result of a kidney and liver ailment. Obituaries described him as the most photographed dog in the world.
Contents
Early life
My Own Brucie was the youngest son of Red Brucie, a dog that sired 36 champions.[3] Red Brucie was considered by dog breeders of the time to be the father of the modern Cocker Spaniel,[4] something which is referred to as the popular sire effect.[5]
My Own Brucie was reported to have a stubborn streak, and on occasion even his owner could not change the dog's mind.[6]
Show Career
In 1938, he became Best American Bred Sporting Dog of the Year, awarded by the American Kennel Club. In 1939, he won his first group at Westminster and went on to win a best in show at the Morris and Essex Kennel Club.[6]
In the best in show class at Westminster in 1940, Brucie faced a Saluki, a Brussels Griffon, a Boxer, a Chow Chow and a Smooth Fox Terrier. The terrier, Ch. Normay Saddler had previously been judged best in show at 51 different shows. Dr. Samuel Milbank conducted the judging and said of My Own Brucie as "He was in the most beautiful bloom, he is a real champion."[7]
Brucie was the first dog to win the Sporting Group and the McGivern Challenge Bowl at Westminster on successive occasions, and one of only two dogs to have won this group on three successive occasions. The other dog to match that achievement is Gordon Setter Ch. Bit O Gold Titan Treasure between 1997 and 1999.[8]
At the time of his victory at Westminster in 1941, Brucie lived part–time at a Long Island kennel and part– at his owner's home in Poughkeepsie, New York. His owner, Herman Mellenthin, had refused several large offers for him, including one for $10,000 and one for $15,000.[3] Following his third victory, he and his owner were honored with a testimonial dinner in his hometown.[4] These victories came during a period when the American Cocker Spaniel was the most popular breed in America.[7]
After Westminster
By the time of his death, at the age of 8 to a kidney and liver ailment, he was owned by Sgt. and Mrs. Peter Garvan of Roslyn, New York following the earlier death of Herman Mellenthin in 1942.[6][4] His death was considered untimely as he had only reached middle age for his breed.[4]
Following his death, obituaries were published on the front page of the New York Evening Sun,[9], the New York Times[10], and The Montreal Gazette, which called him the most photographed dog in the world.[4]
References
- ^ "My Own Brucie". Cal-Ore Cockers. http://www.cal-orecockers.com/my_own_brucie.htm. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "My Own Brucie Dies". Milwaukee Journal. 10 June 1943. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19430610&id=BjUdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9yIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2743,4346330. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ a b "My Own Brucie is Top Dog at the Nation's Top Show For Second Straight Year". Life. 24 February 1941. p. 36. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EEkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=my+own+brucie&source=bl&ots=17CVZMbL4c&sig=mkSI-EAxslwZxB5ODqIxtXfPXnM&hl=en&ei=OWbkS6_2G5KUOLmK2dsN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CCQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=my%20own%20brucie&f=false. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Famous Dog is Dead". The Montreal Gazette. 10 June 1943. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19430610&id=e4AtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NpkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5716,1522254. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ Bell, Jerold S (August 2004). "Popular-Sire Syndrome: Keeping watch over health and quality issues in purebreds". AKC Gazette. http://www.bichonhealth.org/HealthInfo/PopularSir.asp. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "Herman Mellenthin". American Spaniel Club. http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/index.php/herman-mellenthin.html. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Sport: Cocker". Time. 26 February 1940. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,763251,00.html. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "Sporting Group Winners". Westminster Kennel Club. http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/history/sportwinners.html. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "The Cocker Spaniel". Dog & Kennel. http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/breeds/cocker.shtml. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ Ilsley, Henry R. (1943-06-10). "CH. MY OWN BRUCIE, SHOW DOG, DIES AT 8". New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3061EFF39581B7B93C2A8178DD85F478485F9. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
External links
Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 1907–1970 Warren Remedy (1907-09) · Sabine Rarebit (1910) · Tickle Em Jock (1911) · Kenmare Sorceress (1912) · Strathtay Prince Albert (1913) · Slumber (1914) · Matford Vic (1915-16) · Conejo Wycollar Boy (1917) · Haymarket Faultless (1918) · Briergate Bright Beauty (1919) · Conejo Wycollar Boy (1920) · Midkiff Seductive (1921) · Boxwood Barkentine (1922) · Barberryhill Bootlegger (1924) · Governor Moscow (1925) · Signal Circuit of Halleston (1926) · Pinegrade Perfection (1927) · Talavera Margaret (1928) · Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven (1929) · Pendley Calling of Blarney (1930-31) · Nancolleth Markable (1932) · Warland Protector of Shelterock (1933) · Flornell Spicy Bit of Halleston (1934) · Nunsoe Duc de la Terrace of Blakeen (1935) · St. Margaret Mignificent of Claredale (1936) · Flornell Spicy Piece of Halleston (1937) · Daro of Maridor (1938) · Ferry v. Rauhfelsen of Giralda (1939) · My Own Brucie (1940-41) · Wolvey Pattern of Edgerstoune (1942) · Pitter Patter of Piperscroft (1943) · Flornell-Rare-Bit of Twin Ponds (1944) · Shieling's Signature (1945) · Heatherington Model Rhythm (1946) · Warlord of Mazelaine (1947) · Rock Ridge Night Rocket (1948) · Mazelaine Zazarac Brandy (1949) · Walsing Winning Trick of Edgerstoune (1950) · Bang Away of Sirrah Crest (1951) · Rancho Dobe's Storm (1952-53) · Carmor's Rise and Shine (1954) · Kippax Fearnought (1955) · Wilber White Swan (1956) · Shirkhan of Grandeur (1957) · Puttencove Promise (1958) · Fontclair Festoon (1959) · Chik T'Sun of Caversham (1960) · Cappoquin Little Sister (1961) · Elfinbrook Simon (1962) · Wakefield's Black Knight (1963) · Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth (1964) · Carmichaels Fanfare (1965) · Zeloy Mooremaide's Magic (1966) · Bardene Bingo (1967) · Stingray of Derryabah (1968) · Glamoor Good News (1969) · Arriba's Prima Donna (1970)Categories:- Individual dogs
- 1935 animal births
- 1943 animal deaths
- Best in Show winners of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
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