The Wonderful Mr. Wonderful
Local Skye Terrier captures top AKC honor
Cynthia Rossi knew her life had changed the moment she received Mr. Wonderful, her Skye Terrier.
Along with being a wonderful companion, Mr. Wonderful has amassed many awards in the nearly four years Rossi has owned him. He has earned almost 300 ribbons in less than 2 1/2 years of competing, including ribbons and placements won in open confirmation classes alongside professional handlers.
The 4-year old is the 2023 Number One Owner Handled Skye Terrier in the American Kennel Club (AKC). The ceremony for the recognition was scheduled for Friday in the Illinois Gather Bar at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention center in Schaumburg, Ill. Each number one breed honoree receives a rosette and a personalized certificate. The Skye Terrier breed is one of the oldest known breeds.
“It means so much,” Rossi said.
As Rossi spoke by phone, Mr. Wonderful could be heard in the background barking on a couple of occasions.
Due to Friday’s winter storm, Rossi was not able to make the trip to Illinois. She prefers chartering planes for trips so she can quickly return to the animals at her Tara Fill Farm in South Strabane.
“I feel bad because I really wanted to go,” Rossi said. “If I get out there and we cannot take off to get home, I will have a farm full of animals here.”
Rossi explained the AKC National Owner Handler Series (NOHS) program is limited to those who show the dog they own, are not professional handlers and who have not received any compensation for handling a dog in the show ring for the preceding five years.
Rossi has a lifelong love of animals, rescuing dogs, cats, llamas and horses for 40 years.
The original intention for Mr. Wonderful was to be Rossi’s pet. She did not plan to have a show dog.
“Mr. Wonderful is what I never thought I would be doing,” Rossi said. “I told his breeder; I know he is your pick of the litter. I know he’s your next show dog, but I want a pet. He will be neutered. I am not going to show a dog.”
Alan and Penny Smith of Drytown Skye Terriers kennel in Jasper, N.Y., are Mr. Wonderful’s breeders, and Penny Smith said she knew the dog was special.
“He was picked and slated to stay here with us as my husband’s next show dog,” she said. “Our household runs on a theory, for every dog there is a home and for every home, the right dog. Cynthia was the right home for him. After having him for a short while, she realized he was special and wanted the world to see him. He has the perfect package for showing. He is her other half. She loves that dog so much. She’s so proud of him.”
Rossi recalled the day she received Mr. Wonderful, on March 19, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to result in business shutdowns and calls for people to shelter in place.
“I was lifting him into the crate in my car, and (Penny Smith) said she will never forget the look on my face when I saw him,” Rossi said, adding she was listening to a report on the radio from former Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan talking about a shutdown of the county. “I was thinking, (this dog) and I are going to spend a lot of time together. That was the best thing that could have happened.”
It took a couple of months for Rossi to give the dog his Mr. Wonderful moniker, which would serve as his call name. At birth, he was named Bug by Smith’s granddaughters.
“I was calling him everything like honey and baby,” she said. “I was out in the barn one morning and it occurred to me that when people would ask me what is new, I would say I have the most wonderful dog in the world. The light bulb went on and I knew at that point that he was my Mr. Wonderful.”
Mr. Wonderful’s registered name is Drytowns Allies DD Iain Mata MacKinney. The Iain Mata McKinney portion is Scottish, and Rossi said it was a name she researched for two months. Iain means God is gracious; Mata, gift of gold, and MacKinney, God has heard me.
Rossi and Mr. Wonderful eventually entered their first show in 2021. Rossi didn’t think it went well, but Mr. Wonderful still won Best of Breed.
“I was so terrified, so insecure,” Rossi recalled. “I came out of two days of showing thinking I don’t know if we can do this, but we’re going to try.”
To improve handling, the pair practiced and attended Sunday classes at Excel Canine Center in Bethel Park.
By the end of the year, Mr. Wonderful was the Number Six Skye Terrier in the NOHS and they were invited to attend the NOHS show sponsored by Royal Canin in Orlando, Fla. Only the top 10 in each breed were invited. Mr. Wonderful was awarded Best of Opposite Sex, which is awarded to the best dog that is the opposite sex of the Best of Breed winner.
By 2022, Mr. Wonderful was the Number Two Skye Terrier in the NOHS, and by the end of the year had attained the bronze level certificate for lifetime NOHS wins.
In 2023, he ranked as the Number One NOHS Skye Terrier and placed fourth in the All Breed Rankings for Skye Terriers. Also attained during the year were both the silver and gold levels of lifetime NOHS wins, as well as 20 placements in the NOHS rings. Two were Best in Show and one was a Reserve Best in Show.
Mr. Wonderful is the Lifetime Second Highest NOHS ranking Skye Terrier in the history of the AKC program.
“I never wanted a show dog and lacked both the confidence and ability to do so,” Rossi said. “It is the most difficult thing I have ever done – and perhaps one of the two most fulfilling – the other being owning and working Tara Hill Farm, a 31-year labor of love. What we achieved in the show ring is a credit to the absolutely wonderful, selfless friends who guided us from their own experience and expertise showing dogs. We are humbled by their kindness and generosity. Win or lose in the ring, the best dog is the dog here at my side. I hope every dog owner feels the same love for their dog companion.”