FOUR-LEGGED friends from across South Cumbria got tails wagging at the world’s greatest dog show.
Crufts returned in full force this month welcoming thousands of dogs and competitors to the ring hoping to win the coveted array of prizes.
This year Barrow competitor Nicole Searle entered her 11-month-old Spanish Import Whippet puppy, Paco, who gained first place in the puppy dog category, third in undergraduate dog then best male puppy.
Nicole said there were 389 whippets entered into Crufts this year and is immensely proud of Paco for his achievements.
She said: “He has achieved so much in a short space of time. He has gained his junior warrant title at the tender age of nine months old after just 16 weekend shows.
“Dogs have until they are 18 months old to gain this title and many whippets don't achieve it as whippets are such a popular and quality breed.
“Upon gaining his title it also qualifies him for Crufts for life and gives him his stud book number.”
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Jess Cox, from Kendal, was elated after her German Shorthaired Pointer Otis gained a third place title at Crufts.
The 26-year-old, who works at Archway Vets in Grange as a veterinary nurse, entered her 20-month-old pooch into the post-graduate class where he landed third place.
“It was our first time at Crufts, we’ve done local shows to qualify but this was our first big show,” Jess said.
“This is my first dog. I’ve been to Crufts before when I was younger with my mum’s dogs.
“I was never expecting to get third place. We were really chuffed with the result.
“He was actually moved into the older age category with more experienced show dogs so we weren’t expecting to place.”
Jess hopes to partake in more competitions in the future with her beloved canine Otis.
She said: “I think we will do more shows in the future. This has given us the confidence to get into the ring.
“It was a great atmosphere in Crufts.
“Otis got a special dog toy he was allowed to play with and some chicken as a treat.”
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