Old English Sheepdog champion

Swagger the Old English Sheepdog is nearly doggone perfect when it comes to breeding standards for his breed. This Colorado Springs 20-month-old dog nearly took “Best in Show” at the 2013 Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Doug Johnson owns the dog which is trained at Sunrise and Woodmen Kennels. He said his fun-loving gentle giant was a crowd favorite and here’s why, “I don’t know if they loved him because he was the Rocky and Cinderella story of Westminster, but everyone loved Swagger.”

Swagger is a fun-loving, big, beautiful dog. I’m a dog lover and I can appreciate this cute pooch. Swagger is also known as Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect at Westminster. He was a surprise because he’s only 20 months old and still bested older and more mature dogs. Doug Johnson was just as surprised, “I was really quite surprised with Swagger because that was only his fourth show. Being a youngster, we didn’t know how he would handle all the stress.”

Tuesday morning, Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach presented Swagger and the Johnson family with a special Spirit of the Springs Award. It was for how well Swagger did at Westminster and what the Johnson family did during the Waldo Canyon fire. They kenneled hundreds of animals free of charge. Mayor Bach, “We have this morning another great example of leadership and compassion and love for fellow citizens. I thank you gentlemen for this wonderful dog you have and for your love of community.”

Doug Johnson will always remember what one man told him after he lost his house during the fire and then picked up his dog from him, “He said ‘my house is gone. I’ve got my family. I’ve got my job. I’ve got my car. I’ve got my dog. I can start over.'”

Swagger is starting over after Westminster. He and his loving staff are taking him on the road to get more experience before next year’s Westminster show.