From runt to champ

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From runt to champ

By Cheri Harris

Whether he's snapping at water droplets his owner Sheri Jemmott splashes at him or playing with his toys, Champion Blue Max Von Adelaide is a Rottweiler used to the good life.

In the Citrus Springs home he shares with Jemmott, Max has his own small room where his dog show photos and pedigree silently proclaim that he is a magnificent specimen of the breed.

But the 3-year-old wasn't always the top dog. He started his life like an ugly duckling.

Jemmott said his previous owners decided he had no show quality, so he spent most of his time outdoors while his five littermates were pampered, petted and groomed.

"When I got him," Jemmott said, "we called him Eeyore, because he had no spirit and love for life."

The only other person who suspected Max could make it in the dog show world was Mileah "Sweetie" Kay of Ocala, who owns Max's sire, "Blu."

Kay took Max in 2000 to an American Kennel Club-sanctioned puppy show when he was 6 months old. He won.

Jemmott said she learned that Max was available at a Brooksville dog show where his littermates were showing, but she knew she wanted a puppy. Max was already 1 year old.

She wanted to get another dog because her first Rottweiler, Odin, died in a fire started when lightning struck her house.

When she paid the breeder a visit, she had a change of heart. She was sitting on the floor when Max walked into the room, sat in her lap and put his head on her shoulder.

Despite his subdued manner, he knew how to make a good first impression.

After she took Max home in February 2001, Jemmott said it took about a month of regular bathing to remove the sand caked in his coat.

Jemmott showed Max for the first time in April 2001.

She had started showing dogs when she was 9 years old, and had always dreamed of having her dog shown at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

"I've taped every Westminster show since I was 9 years old," she said.

Max's success in the show ring rekindled that dream. Jemmott began balancing her job as a nurse with the dog show circuit.

Her biggest win with Max came in February 2002 at a dog show in West Palm Beach, where he took best of winners for champion points.

"We beat the pants off all the professional handlers," Jemmott said. "Max started winning after that."

At that show, Jemmott met Kay and convinced the professional handler to begin showing Max.

In July 2002, Max earned enough points to become a champion and add the letters "Ch" in front of his name.

In February, Kay showed Max at the Westminster Dog Show, the Super Bowl of dog shows. Max came in sixth place out of 48 Rottweilers entered in the competition.

It was not quite good enough to make it into the final round aired on television, but more than enough to make Jemmott's dream come true.

Jemmott said Max's success in the show ring was bittersweet because less than a month before he went to Westminster, Mandi Richards, a close friend, died in a car crash.

"She always believed in living life to the fullest, every second of the day," Jemmott said. "She always told me, 'If you want to go to Westminster, you can.' "

Now Jemmott plans to work on Max's performance titles in areas such as agility, obedience and herding. She said it would be too expensive to put him back on the show circuit and she doesn't want him to be away from home as much.

"He's my buddy," she said.