His registered name is Ch Cinnstar KD's Red Tornado CD, but he answers to the name,Stormy. The nearly eight-year-old canine isn't any ordinary Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, better known as "Tollers" either. Stormy literally took the world-renowned 132nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show by storm this year, bringing back to Jupiter the "Best of Breed" award in the Sporting Group category. Dogs from all over the world and from every imaginable-and some nearly unimaginable-breed competed in the show held this spring at New York City's famed Madison Square Garden.
Born in Texas, Stormy was aptly named when he was first flown to Jupiter to live with his owner, Jeanne Westhoff Knight, as his plane to Florida was delayed due to stormy weather. Shortly after settling into his new Jupiter digs, Westhoff Knight decided that Stormy's temperament and disposition would be perfect for dog show competition. And compete, he did! Under the guidance of his handler-trainer, Kay Palade-Peiser, Stormy's start in competitive dog shows began nearly five years ago. He's taken "road trips" to Maryland, Alabama, Georgia, and throughout Florida. This past December he won "Award of Merit" at the prestigious AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and to date he's won " hundreds of ribbons" says Westhoff Knight.
As the smallest of the retriever breeds, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are known for their keen bird hunting capabilities. Webbing between their toes helps them wade through wet, swampy locales while in search of their catch.
Twelve Tollers competed at Westminster, along with other more commonly known dogs such as retrievers, spaniels, setters and pointers. The two-days of judging found day one with Stormy taking his "Best of Breed' award which qualified him to compete the following day in the Sporting Group category. Good genes run in Stormy's family as his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sizzle who is also a Florida dog, won the "Best of Opposite Sex" Sporting Group award.
After all the excitement of Westminster, Stormy will be going into "semi-retirement" says Westhoff Knight. "With his good personality and quiet demeanor I think he'd be an incredible therapy dog for people who are in rest homes or otherwise housebound", notes Westhoff Knight. And what about his wearing that award winning ribbon when greeting new visitors? "You never know!", adds his owner.