Miniature Poodle Has the Right Fluff

NEW YORK —  A prancing, black package of pompoms put a little Spice into the Westminster dog show Tuesday night.

In an upset, a miniature poodle named Surrey Spice Girl walked off as America’s top dog when she was picked as best in show at Madison Square Garden.

“She oozes breed type,” said judge W. Everett Dean Jr. “Every step was right. She was smooth, gorgeous.”

The perfectly manicured 3-year-old became the first miniature poodle to win America’s most prestigious dog show since 1959.

The victory completed a kind of Triple Crown for breeder Anne Clarke. She previously won best in show as a handler at Westminster and also judged the award.

A Kerry blue terrier named Torum’s Scarf Michael had been the early favorite among dog fanciers and the crowd of 10,000. He was bidding to become only the second dog ever to win Westminster and Crufts, England’s banner show.

But instead of becoming a world beater, the 5 1/2-year-old terrier called Mick appeared a bit distracted and left room for Spice.

There were more than 2,500 entries at the show, representing 159 breeds and varieties.

The two-day event attracted celebrities such as Candice Bergen and Glenn Close. It also drew an Irish setter co-owned by New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina.

Group winners earlier Tuesday evening were a Brittany called Jester (sporting), a Rhodesian ridgeback named Wetu of Kalahari (hound) and a Pembroke Welsh corgi called Sammy Sosa (herding).

A standard schnauzer named Charisma Jailhouse Rock won the working group and an affenpinscher called Cosmo won the toy group Monday night.

Spice came from the non-sporting group and Mick won among terriers.

Kaz Hosaka expertly led Spice around the center ring, and could hardly speak after the victory.

“I came to this country 23 years ago hoping to win this show,” he said.