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Friday 16 March 2012

George is Best at Crufts 2012

Look who the Lady Of The House met at Crufts!

It is the very handsome George the Lad who was also reporting from Crufts (like the LOTH).

His report  is much more interesting than HER ramblings. He was also showing everybody what great dogs Welsh Terriers are in the Crufts Discover Dogs hall.

Discover Dogs has a stand for EVERY single UK recognised pedigree breed. So while the show dogs are being judged in the rings during the four days of the dog show, other dogs are specially chosen to represent their breed at Discover Dogs so that visitors can find out more about them and whether the breed is a good match for their family and lifestyle. All very important work, and George was a brilliant ambassador for Welsh Terriers on the final day of the show.

I think he should have his own TV programme.

I'd watch him.

Well, the LOTH said it was all very exciting at Crufts because of all the hoo-ha over independent judge checks being introduced for the first time and six dogs getting disqualified.   


But I was more interested to hear about all the other dogs and people that were there doing stuff apart from judging. There's about 800 companies and charities who have stands there and there's lots of other things happening in the main arena and other rings around the National Exhibition Centre like obedience, agility, heelwork to music, Flyball, Cani-X, and lots of demonstrations. So it's not just for pedigree dogs.

This is Alice, a nine-month-old Sealyham puppy with her friend Gail. They were telling people about the Save Our Sealyhams campaign. Sealyhams were once just about the most popular dog in the world but now they are an endangered breed. They are really friendly fun dogs who love their human pack and are very sensitive to peoples' moods.


This is Yomper, he's a cadet puppy in training to become an assistance dog for the Hounds for Heroes charity.


Holly and Lil make wonderful bespoke collars and leads for all breeds. They have a shop in London that is really popular with tourists (so do call in next time you're in the big city). Pictured above is the boss lady Elaine who designed a collar and lead for Uggie of The Artist fame, for the Oscars.


Rubbish photo here (well done, LOTH) of a lovely lady called Jodie Prenger who is a musical theatre actress and radio presenter. She shot to fame in a reality show to find an unknown to play Nancy in Oliver! She was promoting an important charity called Animal Health Trust which does great work for animals battling illness and injury.


This is TV vet Marc Abraham, pictured on the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home stand promoting their campaign that Staffies (Staffordshire Bull Terriers) are softer than many people think. He is holding 'Stitch' - a toy Staffie.

The LOTH had a good chat with the staff at Battersea. They were her first-ever charity of the year when she started her Lost and Fond website. A new TV documentary is currently being filmed at Battersea which will be going out in the UK at 7pm and introduced by Paul O'Grady. He was at Crufts too doing a spot of dog agility in the arena with a rescue Staffie. They have such a bad reputation in the UK and it's so unfair. There are more Staffies and Staffies crosses in UK rescues than any other type of dog.

Finally, I have saved my favourite until last.

This is a very talented sculptor called Joanne Cooke working on one of her one-off dog sculptures. They are wonderful pieces of work which really capture the personality of each dog. She can create them from pictures. Please pop over to her website Joanne Cooke Sculpture and enjoy some more of her wonderful work.

Look at this one - this is Rory, Joanne's own 12-year-old greyhound. His birthday was on the first day of Crufts. Isn't he beautiful!?!

18 comments:

What Remains Now said...

Very interesting! I think the LOTH is a wonderful reporter. So much to see.

genji said...

Great synopsis of the event. I do like the idea of an independent vet who is hopefully not biased by the politics of such a grand event. I had no idea Sealyham's were endangered. It's not just the U.K., Staffies have a bad rep in the States too.

The Daily Pip said...

You met George! How exciting! What a great report!

I am definitely going to check out Joanne Cook's website. Her sculptures look amazing!

Your pal, Pip

Matilda the Boxer said...

Wow, those sculptures are really incredible! I wonder if I can convince Mom she needs one of me? Hmmm. Thanks for all the neat pics and links. It sounds like Crufts is a fun day!

tubby3pug said...

What fun , the sculpture is particularly lovely. Mom wants to attend westminster someday

Urban Hounds

Eileen H said...

Hi, just stopping by to say hello. I met George at Crufts and he is just so handsome. Crufts was a fab day out. Have bookmarked your blog Winnie.

Love Eileen and Annie lurcherette xx

Millie and Walter said...

Thanks for showing us around Crufts. This is the third post I have read about it so far. I would love to go if I lived on that side of the pond. I watched a bit of the agility over the internet last week. I wish I could have watched more, but life was calling.

Cindy

Sue said...

So glad the new vet checks have been introduced at Crufts.

Now going over to check out Joanne Cook's site, as I'de love a sculture of Song and maybe one of my JR.

We already know Staffies are soft:)

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

Winnie... you got to meet George the Lad..IN THE FURS??? OH how EXCITING. I am all green (St. Paddy's day is tomorrow you know) with jellyness over THAT.

I LOVED this post.

George The Lad said...

Hi Winnie, I blushing under my fuzz face it was a pleasure to meet her, this is a great write up, I have also linked to the write up about Crufts on my FB page, mom says it makes interesting reading.

She must have brought you a present didn't she?
Have a good week
I hope one day we can get to meet up in the furs.
See Yea George xxx

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Great photos and post. We saw George's post where he was promoting Welsh Terriers.

SHE has always wanted a Sealyham...but alas.

Oz has loads of staffies and staffy X's, too. They're wonderful dogs.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & roxy

Peggy Frezon said...

OMD you got to meet George there! How lucky!! (And I might add that George was equally lucky to meet you there!) That is interesting all the different booths of things to see and do there. The Sealyham pup is so cute. Oh, now I really want to go to Crufts! And I really want a puppy!

Two French Bulldogs said...

Those sculptures are pretty cool
Benny & Lily

Bassetmomma said...

How lucky you were to meet George the Lad at Crufts! Sounds very exciting!

Sophie said...

Awesome write-up! Those sculptures are just amazing.

Lola had a lot of fun watching all the agility and flyball dogs, haha!

houndstooth said...

What fantastic and interesting stuff your mom got to see! Meeting George must have been awesome!

I sure am glad to see that they were dismissing dogs who weren't sound from the competition. That needs to happen here in the States for sure!

Bunny

The Thuglets said...

Excellent report on Cruft's! We love the sculpture work. How fab she got to meet George The Lad!
Have a great week

Big Nose Pokes
The Thugletsx

WFT Nobby said...

Great report Winnie. But we are so jealous that the LOTH got to meet George for real.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.