Mango Minster Day Five

Working Group Judging day is dedicated to my Beautiful Raja (shown here with me when I was a teenager) who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge three years ago.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Murphy Dogg is donating some of his mom's Hardcore Cookies to our lucky Best in Show Winner! Thanks Murphy Mom! Visit her store here.


The Terriers were nowhere to be seen during the Working Group competition (just a little too much DOG for you guys, huh), but my faithful photographer followed them on their field trip to...

Terrier Runway - It seems those rascals got confused as Fashion Week is just starting up in New York, and went to Bryant Park to promenade along the catwalk instead of in the dog show ring. You know how those terriers love their fashions! Not to mention the more wirey among the group prepared for the showing by STRIPPING! Shameless.

Photo by Petey

At least they didn't clog up MY show ring with their dumb fashion show.

Working Group Reader's Choice Award
The voting was REALLY close on our Reader's Choice today. Such a fine group of working doggies! For Reader's Choice, we have another tie!

Waldo!

and Zim!

A couple of fine chaps if I say so myself. Both very hard workers. Good job guys and good job to all our fine Working Group Count Test Ants.

Working Group Judging
Judge Bolo was clear that there will be NO TERRIER INTERRUPTIONS allowed during the Working group competition. Now there's something you don't see every day.

Message received! Judge Bolo, may we have your decisions.

BOLO SPEAKS!

To all the Working Group Contestants, holy dog you made it hard for me! I know you all work so very hard and I wish I could have picked all of you, but I really had to narrow it down.

Special Awards of Merit
I have to give out two Honourable Mentions. One goes to Cap’n Maverick, for being piratey, my Dad is very piratey and you just got bonus points for being that cool.

Mango: From this photo it appears that Maverick might have worked on the Love Boat prior to becoming a pirate. Arrrrrr! Thar be fair maidens, eh Maverick?


The second Award of Merit goes to Biggie, he took a BATH for this! That’s impressive, I feel for him. I think he should hire himself out as security for the rest of the show. I could have used him at PetSmart yesterday, I got accosted by some groupies wanting to influence my vote. It didn’t happen, Mom kept them away, but Biggie’s presence would have been nice.Mango: Since Biggie lives in NYC, he likes to add a little bling to his look when he goes out.

2nd Runner Up
2nd runner up goes to Summi. He worked so hard he got dirty! He must have done a bang up job, and he probably got a BATH too. Poor guy.

Mango: Summi was backstage when his award was announced. I caught him perusing the personal ads, not sure if it was for a snack or a companion.

1st Runner Up runner up goes to Maika and Dahkota

Mango: Bolo had little to say about his 1st runner up choice. I suspect he became temporarily dumbstruck in horror that two such dignified Working doggies could be such total, I have to be honest, DOOFUS'S (maybe we'll see them in the Non-Sporty group next year).

Best in Group - Working
Best in Group goes to Waldo who I heard won his fair share of cupcakes recently. I didn’t get any, did anyone else?

Mango: If you missed Waldo's adventures in cupcakes, you can visit his bloggy. Waldo told me that he did not actually consume the cupcakes himself, but used them for the clicker training he is doing with his daddy. He has found that peoples learn faster if you are able to click and reward. In this photo he is trying to teach Daddy how to shake hands, but from Waldo's expression, its not going well.

Special note from Judge Bolo

Mango, next year, can we have more runners up or more awards? I really wanted to hand out more. I mean, ZIm discovered an OCEAN – that’s just WAY cool. And Madison works at her Mom’s store, that’s cool too. And Kira has a boat she navigates. And Daisy is the Kong Queen, you didn’t have a Kong Queen Category. Hmm? What? What do you mean I should cut it short? Uncle Brett is here? Sorry Mango, Uncle Brett is here I’ve got to go!

Thank you Judge Bolo

And now, our last group.... the Terriers! Let me just quote the AKC regarding this group (red letters are mine).

"These are feisty,energetic dogs whose sizes range from fairly small, as in the Norfolk, Cairn or West Highland White Terrier, to the grand Airedale Terrier. Terriers typically have little tolerance for other animals, including other dogs. Their ancestors were bred to hunt and kill vermin. Many continue to project the attitude that they're always eager for a spirited argument. Most terriers have wiry coats that require special grooming known as stripping in order to maintain a characteristic appearance. In general, they make engaging pets, but require owners with the determination to match their dogs' lively characters."

I think "lively characters" means crazy jumping about maniacs!



So, here goes...
Terrier Reader's choice polls close at 5PM EST on Saturday, February 14th.

Watch out! The Terriers are in the ring!

BabyStan Airedale

I am happy to see so many Dales at Mango Minster. I love Dales! My Grandpa Angus was a Dale! The Airedale is the king of the terriers in both size and lineage. Sporty, but never silly. Understated in their choice of apparel.

GooberStan Airedale

Stan is from the Republic of GooberStan. Its nowhere near Pakistan, Uzbekistan, or Afghanistan, but it's the land of the Stanley - one Gobber of an Airedale. No passport required.

Maggie Airedale

Can you tell she spends just hours every morning grooming her beard?

Mitch Airedale

Mitch's beard is the envy of many of his Dale friends. He owes it mostly to eating apples every day and a bit to generous application of O'Drools.

Noah Airedale

If you think you see something similar in the next three photos, you are not mistaken. Noah and his harem of gals were forced to pose on this most unpleasant table for Mango Minster. I suppose the fan was to create a windswept effect, but his peoples forgot the blue screen to project the tranquil ocean scene upon.

Tess Airedale

I LOVE Airedales from the UK and Australia because they don't get their tails clipped. Rather, they sport the full and glorious Airedale banana tail. Did you know that even though Airedales are best known as ratters, they have also been used for bear hunting.

Willow Airedale

Australian Airedales eat strange foodables such as hoki fillets and rashers of bacon. I also hear they eat camels.

Lacie Beast

See? I knew it! What did I say? NO SWIMSUIT COMPETITION! But does the Beast listen? She does not. The Lacie Beast is a one of a kind. She is wanted in 27 states for such offenses as stalking, illegal furmination, and general mayhem. I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to let her judge the hounds. I hope nobody got hurt.

Darla Jean Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers are either white or brindle (like Darla Jean). Some people insist that there is a greater difference between the disposition of the guy and gal in this breed than in any other. Well, you wouldn't see a guy staring at hisself in the mirror like that, I can tell you.

Feather Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers have eggheads and some people love the look, whilst others appear to detest it. That seems to be true of the breed in general - no one just likes a Bull Terrier, they either hate or adore him.

Pappy Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers are easy to care for and their coats come clean with just a quick wash and dry (gentle cycle only, please).

Petey Cairn Terrier

Doesn't Petey look fantastic? I will let you in on a little secret. He used Mango Suds for coat conditioning prior to this photo and, well, you can see the results. Petey lives in NYC and gets to visit Asta all the time (lucky little chap).

Lucy Irish-Aire

Lucy is amazing. I have to tell you that there was a possum on the ROOF of her shed and her dad carried her UP A LADDER and put her on the ROOF and she ran around and chased the possum and then jumped off the roof herself like some sort of flying maniac. Its all true. You can read it on her bloggy (see her post from 01/19/09 if you don't believe me).

Poopie du Claun Jack-Tzu

Sigh, Poopie du Claun is another victim of living with a bloggy hog. Little can be known about this elusive Jack-Tzu as it appears there is some Aki Koykoy KurKuKoy doggie always using the pooter.

Stella Lakeland Terrier

Cute, huh? I don't think so. Stella eats like a trucker and belches in a most unladylike fashion. She is also prone to attacks of yappy sounds that could break glass.

Arrow Silky Terrier

The Silky Terrier can be an exhausting little creature with his endless demands for attention and action. He is quite vocal and could be considered something of a perpetual motion machine.

Asta Wire Fox Terrier

Not you too Asta? Asta is normally quite a lady, but I fear the Lacie Beast can be a bad influence on her.

Scruffy Wire Fox Terrier

And you wonder why I think Westminster is rigged. The WFT is the winningest doggie? WTF?

Rusty Yorkshire Terrier

Here is Rusty's Haiku
Rusty chases squirrels / All around the yard, so fun / Never catch; he pouts

Come back tomorrow night for the exciting judging results and our entire Best in Show line-up.
Reader's Polls close at 5PM EST on Saturday, February 14th. One vote per doggie, PLEASE.