Throughout the week, ferries bound for Holyhead reverberated with excited barks from hundreds of dogs all hoping to win best in show at the 125th Crufts competition.
Known as the Cheltenham of the dog world, the annual competition in Birmingham has attracted an estimated 550 well-groomed pedigrees from both sides of the border.
Among the many seasoned entrants is Katherina Savage from Wexford, whose golden retriever’s passport had been stamped so many times that he needed a second one to travel overseas.
Savage’s chances this year are as good as ever, particularly as her beloved pet, Cillian, who competes under the name Weisford Guilty as Sin, was crowned best of breed in 2023.
“Cillian is from a fifth or sixth generation of home breeding and when he won best of breed two years ago it was incredibly special,” Savage said. “It’s something you dream of but never actually think could happen. Best in show, however, is something else entirely, it’s like winning the lottery.
“At the ferry port you meet everybody heading to Crufts, and the early morning flights to Birmingham are always packed full of spectators at this time of year.
“Cillian doesn’t mind the boat at all and is well aware that he’s about to go on this big trip since he’s all washed and groomed. He’s an English and Irish champion and is now on his second passport because it’s been stamped so many times.
“They’re very adaptable breeds and are perfectly happy staying in the hotel room with us so it’s always a very enjoyable experience no matter how well you do.”
Savage, who has competed in dog shows since she was 14, owns nine golden retrievers who run up a food bill of approximately €160 per month.
“They get kibble along with raw meat such as chicken wings, duck wings, minced lamb or tripe. I don’t give them any supplements, unlike some people who take part in Crufts, because they all get good exercise and are fed very well. But it’s important to note that it takes a whole family or support network to look after nine dogs. You need to love them as pets and enjoy spending time with them most of all.
“I consider myself very lucky as I have an acre of land that they love to run around in. I also groom them myself and spend a lot of time keeping their coats in good condition. However, with golden retrievers you don’t want them to look manufactured like some other breeds. All you need to do is tidy up their coats, paws and ears.”
This year’s Crufts has attracted a record number of overseas entries, amounting to 3,952 dogs travelling to the UK. The French are the most represented nationality after the British, with 475 dogs, followed by 407 from Germany, 376 from the Netherlands and 360 from Italy. There were 327 entrants from the Republic of Ireland along with over 200 from the north. Other dog owners have travelled from Australia, Japan and the United States.
About 18,500 dogs are participating in breed, agility and obedience competitions over the four days of the event from March 6 to March 9.
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Orlagh Murray of the Irish Kennel Club told The Sunday Times that Crufts had always interested a huge cohort of the Irish population. “You see the same people travelling to the UK every year, while many others are competing for the first time. I remember being on a 6.05am flight to Birmingham one year and literally every person on the plane was heading to the National Exhibition Centre for Crufts,” she said.
“The competition is primarily for pedigree dogs, but there’s loads of other things that non-pedigree dogs can compete for. Overall, Crufts is a celebration of dogs. It’s a dog competition to see the ultimate show dog, but we’re all very conscious of our dogs’ health and welfare.
“I’m happy to say that our attitude to dogs is changing in Ireland, but we still have a way to go. In France, dogs are very much part of society and are allowed to accompany their owners in restaurants and cafés. I think many of us would like to see that becoming the norm here.”
