[Quiet Man Cometh]

Yeah, Monty was just Monty, ;).

And yes, that was intentional. Monty was a black and tan, and there was a well known colour bias against the 'whole colours' (black and tan, ruby or all 'red') in favour of the Blenheim (chestnut and white) and tricolour. People wished me luck but told me not to exxpect to achieve much with him. I was vaguely aware of the expression from watching the movie and decided that it worked in a 'stick it to them' way. He looked like a "Monty" anyway. He certainly wasn't overly sociable or cutesy-woo in the normal manner of the breed. And, as is my habit, Cavaliers are an English breed, thus an English themed name. :)

I showed him to within 2 points of his championship myself, and then a friend of ours and a professional handler decided he wanted to show him one day. He had also heard the comment that Monty wouldn't win anything and so set out to prove everyone wrong. ;). Monty did great! And since his arrival we've seen more whole colourd cavies in the show ring. I'm inclined to call that co-incidence but some relatives thinks he helped to make the colouring more popular.

He was, quite literally, a hair from Best in Show at one point. His tail never really was very impressive.