Mango Minster 2011 "Cracker Dog" Entry

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!

Fun on a Gray Day

"Watcha doin', mom?"
"Can I help?"
"Mmmmmm..."
"Sniff sniff... "
"Nom, nom, nom... BURP!"

 

Taking Down the Tree is More Fun Than Putting It Up...

...when Charlie is involved.

Resting Up

Merry Christmas!

We hope Santa brings you peace and lots of love. And perhaps a treat or two!

- Happy holidays from Charlie and his pack!

Did You Hear Something?

Waiting

All I Want for Christmas...

In the interest of Joey's nose, he and Charlie are taking a time-out. Charlie, as you can tell, is not too happy about this turn of events.

Christmas Tree

Charlie thought the Christmas tree was incredibly intriguing when we first brought it in the house. He walked all around it, sniffing and smelling, smelling and sniffing.

He checked out the top, he checked out the bottom, he stuck his head deep inside. He was so engaged, in fact, that it was almost impossible to turn the tree or tweak the positioning.

He soon lost interest, though, and disappeared. Maybe he thought I was going to make him help decorate?

 

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Last week it was well below freezing, so we let Pouncer, a normally outdoor cat, spend tiime in the house. Of course you know where she made a beeline for.

 

Watcher

For awhile I was puzzled. After I moved his bed in front of the fireplace, instead of staring at me like he usually does, Charlie began kind of staring away. He wasn't sick, there was no fire to capture his attention...

... and then it dawned on me. He was still watching me - but as a reflection in the glass. Spooky!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope your day leaves you this relaxed and happy!:

Getting Comfortable

Occasionally it seems like Charlie gets obsessed with making his bed be "just right" before he can lie down. It can go on a surprisingly long time, and I've always wanted to capture it on video, but usually don't have my camera handy. Last week, however, I got a sample -- this is his "shortened version" (he got distracted) but you can still get the idea, I think! :)

 

Friends

This morning Charlie alerted us to the fact that something extremely interesting was going on outside. When we looked out the window --- there was Cassie, on a walk with her mom.

Hearing Charlie's continuous barking inside the house, Cassie sat down, stared in his direction, and refused to go on. It was cold and overcast, almost rainy, but there was no saying "no" to these two. They wanted to romp and roll, so into the back yard they went.


Considering their age difference (Charlie is 6, Cassie is almost 6 months), Charlie kept up the furious pace of play pretty well. After awhile, he was clearly starting to slow, though, and would lie down, making Cassie do more of the play work.

To change things up and keep it interesting, when Charlie lay down, sometimes Cassie would turn and walk away. But she'd go just far enough to let him relax and feel safe. Then she'd turn and, from a running start, pounce on him.

Pouncer and pouncee
"Momma, save me from the puppy!"

Though fewer, they had their quieter moments too, and they followed each other like shadows, rarely leaving each other's side.




Charlie's now happily and completely conked --- but by the window, of course, where he's sure to notice if she goes by again. :)

 

Apparently I Need Not Have Worried

He likes it.

 

Somehow I Hadn't Counted on This Turn of Events...

As a pup, Charlie demolished his beds -- fleece, cordura, even Orvis Toughchews... the material didn't matter - he would find a weak spot, chew a hole and then try to eat the stuffing. Though I regularly sewed them up, he just saw it as a challenge... one he easily met. Sew... demolish... resew... demolish... I finally quit trying, and we put them away (except for one in the bedroom to be used with supervision).

Recently it occurred to me, however, that since he seems to be grown up enough to generally play with stuffies without (always) eating them, it might be time to get Charlie a new bed. So I did -- another Orvis Toughchew.

As hoped for, he hasn't chewed on it. Now if I can just get him to lie on it...

 

Blogblast for Peace

"If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another." -- Winston Churchill

We are proud to participate in Blogblast for Peace.

 

Wordless Wednesday

Hey You - Where's My Treat!?

Wordless Wednesday

Upping the Ante

This afternoon, when Charlie spotted little Cassie walking in front of the house, we bettered his pleas to go walking with her and let them play in the backyard.

They ran and chased,

and wrestled and chewed on each other,

until they were both tuckered out, too tired to run anymore.

They're still getting to know each other, but this looks like the start of a wonderful friendship!