Oxfordshire dog owner competing at Crufts today
The dog show was first established in 1891
More than 20,000 perfectly groomed pets of all shapes and sizes will be on show across the event which draws to a close today at the Birmingham NEC.
Crufts takes place over four days and has been held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham since 1991.
"Showing is a hobby and a very expensive hobby"
It attracts thousands of dogs with their owners and handlers, displaying their dogs' skills and abilities to crowds of people.
Jill Knott from Upper Heyford owns four Australian Shephards, two who are retired and another two who will be taking part this year.
Llano, a five-year-old American import and Seven, a one-year-old Czechia Republic import, will be competing in the show today.
Llano has been competing every year since the country came out of lockdown
It will be Seven's first time competing, but Llano has been competing every year since the country came out of lockdown.
Ms Knott said: “I love my dogs, showing is a hobby and a very expensive hobby but at the end of the day because I love it. The day that I don’t love it or I’m disappointed in my dogs I will give up showing.”
Talking about the atmosphere at the show, Jill says, “everybody loves talking about their animals and at Crufts everybody gets together as a big family and is so pleased when they win”.
She added: “Everybody gets to know each other, so it’s great to have a good chat as a meet up. It’s a good get together because we all live across the length and breadth of the country, so it’s nice to get a show to meet people we don’t see very often.”
The dog show, which was first established in 1891, includes events such as flyball, agility, heelwork to music, The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award and the best in show - Crufts' top honour.
More than 200 pedigree breeds from 51 different counties will compete for the title, which will be awarded live on Channel 4 on March 9.
Last year, an Australian shepherd named Viking from Solihull, Birmingham, beat 24,000 dogs from around the world to win best in show.