Crufts Report Thursday March 9th

Today’s the day the working and pastoral groups strut their four legged stuff around the green carpets of the National Exhibition Centre.

Footfall appeared to be higher than normal for the opening day of Crufts and as we headed off to the exhibition halls on a shuttle bus we were joined by a young and eager Leonberger, keen to impress on all passengers that he was up for any amount of fussing to come his way.

TV’s Shauna Lowry talks to a fire detection dog handler

The first sight to greet us as we arrived at the show, a Newfoundland in a striking tuxedo-styled bib. This is Crufts alright.

Brisk business was being done on the many trade stands at the show. An honourable mention goes to the Dog Warden’s Association’s stand for an innovative way to catch people’s attention. We’ll have more on this later in the show but suffice to say talking dogs are always going to get people to stop, especially when the dog in question is quite the cheeky chappy. K9 Magazine has asked for an exclusive interview with D4. We’ll keep you posted.

A canine comedian on the dog warden’s stand. Cuthbert’s
got someone in stitches.

Every trade stand is fighting to catch the attention of the thousands of visitors passing by. Top marks to Arden Grange for their hosting of a very neat demonstration by Gill Raddings of ‘Stunt Dogs’ who gave the crowd a treat, showing off a grandson of Eastender’s canine star, ‘Wellard’.

This handsome fellow is the grandson of Eastender’s resident Wellard and he was taking part in a demonstration by Gill Raddings on the Arden Grange stand
(Did you know: Wellard the dog is actually a bitch!)Thursday’s Group winners:

WORKING GROUP:

1) BOUVIER DES FLANDRES
SWIS/NED C GIJS SANTOS FROM THE DOGSFARM2) NEWFOUNDLAND
MISTER SKIPPER KING OF HELLULAND

3) ALASKAN MALAMUTE
CH/SP/PORT ZULEM I CAN TO BE MAGIC

4) ROTTWEILER
VARENKA CHINESE WHISPERS
 

PASTORAL GROUP:

1) AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
AM CH CAITLAND ISLE TAKE A CHANCE

2) GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG
LORRETTA FROM SHOTAAN

3) BELGIAN SHEPHERD DOG (TERVUEREN)
CH DOMBURG REVE D AMOUR

4) SAMOYED
CH DUCKSLAKE SPIRIT OF SIBERIA JW