CA: Vacaville dog, is family's pet, breed champion

Vacaville dog, is family's pet, breed champion
By Ryan Chalk / The Reporter, Vacaville
Posted: 02/19/2011 05:13:48 AM PST



Maddy, a 2-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier from Vacaville, is like any other dog. She enjoys sleeping on the bed and rolling around in the mud.

What separates her from the others is she holds the distinction of being named the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Best of Breed winner two years running.

Maddy lives with owner Genoa Brown when she's not strutting her stuff before judges around the country.

Brown just returned from the premier American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized dog show in New York where Maddy and her handler, Kim Rudzick of Massachusetts, impressed the judges during Tuesday's competition. Maddy remains on the East Coast with Rudzick where the pair continue to compete in dog shows.

Maddy has racked up 12 best in show titles, which includes becoming the first American Staffordshire Terrier to win at the Montgomery County Kennel Club in Pennsylvania.

Brown said it's not enough for a dog to have nice conformation to become a champion. It also has to have attitude, which Maddy certainly has.

"If they don't enjoy the show and have that outgoing, exuberant attitude, they're not going to do well in front of the judges. Early on Maddy had that extra spark. She absolutely loves the dog show and you can see it when she shows," Brown said.

The American Staffordshire Terrier, or Am Staff, was registered as a breed by the AKC in 1936. It can be mistaken for its cousin, the American Pit Bull Terrier, but Brown said there is a distinction
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between the two.

"They tend to get a bad rap with all of the negative press," Brown said in regard to the Am Staff. "A lot of it has to do with poor breeding and poor ownership."

"It's unfortunate they're stereotyped, but they are a loving, affectionate family dog. They love everything and everyone," she added.

Maddy, who's registered name is GCH Castle Rock's Sbigstaff Mad About You is also owned by Ruth Sampson and Dayna Pesenti of San Mateo, but lives with Brown, her husband and three children in Vacaville.

Brown said that when Maddy isn't on the show circuit, she is just a regular family pet that likes to sleep on the bed and play outdoors with her brother Axl and sister Piper.

"She doesn't know she's famous," Brown said.

Vacaville dog, is family's pet, breed champion - Vallejo Times Herald