The biggest dog show in the world kicks off today, with 18,500 pooches expected to compete. Brave Mirror dog Betty had a go at the Crufts agility course, with very mixed results
Forget London Fashion Week, if you want to see perfect poise, amazing coiffuring and sensational styling, look no further than Crufts. Run by The Royal Kennel Club, it’s the world’s largest dog show, founded by Charles Cruft in 1891 and held annually in early March – with more than 200 breeds attending every year.
Culminating in the Best in Show award, which is presented at the end of the marathon four day competition on Sunday, in that time more than 18,500 pampered pooches are expected to strut their stuff at Birmingham’s NEC arena. Broadcast on Channel 4, this year its main presenter is Clare Balding, but Claudia Winkleman is making her Crufts presenting debut.
Devoted owners put their highly trained dogs – everything from pugs to greyhounds and pomeranians – through all sorts of disciplines including agility to freestyle, obedience and flyball races, as judges scrutinise their every move. So, you may think I was barking mad for taking my two-year-old rescue pooch, Betty, into this highly competitive arena. But, proudly showing off her ‘designer’ Mirror T-shirt, my mixed breed mutt was up for the challenge.
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Strolling past an endless stream of impressive pedigrees, I did wonder if Betty’s performance may be less best in show and more of a dog’s dinner. But, her ears pert, tail wagging, she was ready to give it a go. And surely this would be a walk in the park for Betty, who was found with her four puppies living in a pipe by the side of a busy road in Northern Macedonia. Suzanne’s charity, which is based there, rescued her and shipped her over to the UK.
Heading towards the agility course – a sort of Hyrox for dogs, with rings, jumps and tunnels – she clearly got stage fright and began to violently pull towards the exit door. “No no, Betty,” I told her. “It’s your time to shine,” giving her a dry duck treat to tempt her.
Sadly, Betty had other ideas. Trudging up to the high bar, first she went under it, then knocked it off, then lay down and refused to move. Her short, stumpy legs were not designed to leap, gazelle-like, over the jump. The tunnel was even worse, Betty took one look at it, clearly had flashbacks to the Northern Macedonia pipe, and turned on her heels.
Any dreams of lifting the coveted Crufts trophy began to disintegrate before my eyes. But our Mirror mutt – who had her own press pass for the 135th Crufts – was not leaving with a whimper quite yet! Strolling along, we passed hundreds of stalls laden with treats, toys and accessories.
Pooches were being put through their paces in endless arenas staging everything from breed-specific events to grooming competitions. Surrounded by a sea of dogs – tall ones, short ones, shaggy ones, shaven ones; tiny chihuahuas and mighty Bernese mountain dogs, almost the size of a small horse, we spotted TV’s Clare Balding.
Fresh from presenting the Winter Olympics, Clare, whose Tibetan terrier, Archie, died in 2020, aged 15, said she was on the hunt for a new four legged friend. Promoting her book, Pastures New, she said: “People often say that we have domesticated dogs, but in fact I think they have helped domesticate us, not the other way around.
“They teach us about unwavering loyalty and love. They get us outside everyday and help us to make friends. You know, when you go on walks and three years later you know the dog’s names but not the owner’s? That was the dog’s doing.” Animal lover Clare added: “I am in heaven when I’m at Crufts. If you think about it, it’s a live sporting event. I love dogs and I love people who have dogs. We all have something basic in common – we will do anything to make our dog happy.”
If she fancies her chances at one day lifting the main prize, Clare should maybe consider an English cocker spaniel as her next dog, as the breed has won Best in Show more than any other – lifting the silverware an incredible seven times. But Clare said: “I grew up with boxers, so I’ve always got an absolute soft spot for boxers. They’re the clowns of the dog world.”
Keen to mix with the rich and famous, next Betty pulled me over to meet Amanda Holden, who was wearing a denim jacket embroidered with dogs. The proud owner of two mixed-breed rescue pooches, Minnie and Rudie, the star is a long time supporter of Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.
Petting two fluffy pomeranians, as she walked about, she ignored poor Betty, saying of the pedigree pooches: “They’re my favourite.” Then she posed up for some snaps for a dog food brand.
Tottering away, next Betty led me through the competition areas, where there was a real air of tension as some patient – and some not so patient – dogs and their apprehensive owners waited for their turn in the ring or on the grooming stand. “It’s the pinnacle of dog excellence,” excited owner Jane Heggie, told us, snapping a pic with her four year old Australian shepherd, Luca.
Elsewhere, Robert Hammond was showing Athena, a Russian black terrier, for the first time – and was very nervous about her debut appearance in the Working breed group. She sat obediently by his feet while he spoke to the Mirror, while Betty gave her a sniff, not quite sure whether Athena was a dog or a woolly mammoth. Robert said: “It’s her first time at Crufts and she’s doing really well but it’s quite overwhelming.”
Then we met Jordan Fletcher, who was primping her standard poodle, three-year-old Elsa, for the poodle grooming competition. The pooch’s fluffy fur was tied up ready to release and braided for extra curl and bounce in the ring. Betty, who has never had a bath or a brush in her life, looked on in awe. Jordan said: “She’s an incredible dog, cheeky but so loving – I’m so proud of her. It’s great to be here.”
Exhausted just from watching all the pooch pampering, it was time for us to head home. So, I slipped Betty a treat. She had been a very good girl, after all. We will have to wait until Sunday to find out which pawesome pet wins Best in Show. But my rescue mutt will always be my champion.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
