Too often, great dogs go unrecognized in their own lifetimes. Charlie, therefore, would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a great dog of our time... a pup without peer... the chihuahua of choice... living legend, the Honorable Judge Twinkie V. Twinkerson.
Ms. Twinkerson, the uncredited co-author of Twinkie: The Tiniest Dog in the World, is the sponsor and judge of a series of highly acclaimed and incomparably wonderful Pet Photo Contests. Dogs around the world eagerly await announcement of these competitions.
The image of impartiality, Judge Twinkerson, a tiny teacup chihuahua with a big big personality, is also a noted judge at MangoMinster 2011. Charlie is honored to be in the group being judged by Ms. Twinkerson and would like to demonstrate a small token of his great gratitude for her patronage selfless commitment to fair play.
In an aria from the new opera, The Barker of Seville, that he has written and will perform in her honor following MangoMinster, Charlie sings his undying praise of Ms. Twinkerson. In this short clip, Charlie works with his mom vocal coach:
In the following scene from the opera, wealthy Count Alpovida, who disguised as a poor student has won the love of fair Twinkina, here reveals his identity and reconciles with her. Charlie barks the role of Alpovida. The role of Twinkina, whose casting will be announced after MangoMinster judging is complete, is written for a teacup chihuahua soprano, but here is barked by a stand-in. Charlie fervently hopes to announce soon that a teacup lead has been found.
Furthermore, since he knows that the presence of a little brother can be a distraction, Charlie is making arrangements to take care of little Pedrito so that Ms. Twinkerson is able to give her full attention to MangoMinster judging and attending the subsequent operatic gala.
Charlie hopes you will join him in applauding Ms. Twinkerson - a dog who deserves to be recognized in her own time!
For those of you unfamiliar with it, Mango Minster is a yearly dog competition like no other. Initiated as a response to Westminster, Mango Minster pits dog against dog, kitteh against kitteh in fierce competition. This year's categories comprise Shameless Dogs and Doggie Divas, Good Old Boys and Gals, Bad Sports, Kittehs, and Cracker Dogs. Charlie, while not a terrier, is entering in the Cracker Dog category.
From the very start, it was clear that Charlie was not going to be the mellow, soft-mouthed, eager-to-please dog that the movies have taught us to expect of a golden retriever. It was clear that he was going to be a serious "cracker dog."
He had so much energy that he just couldn't control himself.
He pushed one boundary after another. No person, no cat...
...no dog, no bed...
...not even his own tail was safe from his attention and his sharp little puppy teeth.
As he grew older, he learned to zoom. Anytime... anyplace... indoors... outdoors... doesn't matter. The dog must zoom!
Of course, there are also the goofy Charlie-isms. He squints for people he loves:
He eats anything and everything:
He goes nuts when friends arrive:
He has serious histrionics when I leave the house without him:
And the singing... dear lord, the singing. He demands to sing. After. Every. Meal.
Now, at 6, he has mellowed a bit --- I can honestly say that it's been a year since I saw Charlie chase his tail. But the dog's still crackers. And I confess - I'm crackers about him!
