Crufts and the real winners in my eyes!

My first time at Crufts and I discovered it’s not just about showing dogs but so much more. 

On Thursday – Gundog day – I attended as a professional, where I got the opportunity to represent the Canine Massage Guild with lots of other lovely guild members – on our stand in Hall 1. We got to chat to lots of lovely dog people, meet lots of lovely dogs and most importantly raise awareness of the power of Clinical Canine Massage Therapy.

On Saturday aka Terrier & Hound day – I got to go as a dog guardian / dog lover with my best (human) friend.

Crufts is about dogs yes but it also provides information (lots and lots and lots of it) on anything & everything dog related, services in regards to anything & everything dog related AND shopping on anything & everything dog related. Funnily enough – there’s a theme – Dogs!

There are 4 halls and the main show arena! Each hall has its own smaller show rings, all dogs that are competing are located in and around these show rings – where you get to see them and their owners – up close and personal. Each hall has a humungous number of ‘stands’ – which are demonstrating, providing information and selling all things dog and human related!

On top of all of this there is the totally amazing ‘Discover Dog’s area – where you get up close and personal with around 200 different breeds of dogs. You are encouraged to chat to owners and most importantly interact with the dogs.

Then there are the agility, heelwork to music, flyball, Friends for Life, Scrufts and vulnerable breeds competitions – that you can watch in one of the many rings/arena’s.

Lastly and most famous is the actual pedigree dog show part of Crufts, with approx. 22,000 dogs from all over the world competing for the coveted ‘Best in Show’ title. My personal favourite was Dave the Boxer from Banbury.

The real winners of Crufts in my eyes………Assistance dogs!

Here’s me carrying out a free muscular health check on a beautiful Chocolate Lab. This amazing chap is his guardians arms and legs! One of his many jobs, for example, is to help load and unload the washing machine and to pick things up from the floor and give to his guardian. Not only that this guardian held the upmost respect and love for her dog and wanted the best for him at all times. He is not treated as a tool, a commodity or a toy. The bond between these two lovely souls was amazing and truly inspiring. 

So yes I’ll be attending next year and I’ve already convinced a group of friends to join me!

If you get to go – don’t forget to pop along to the Canine Massage Guild Stand, where (fingers crossed) I hope to be representing this amazing professional organisation again.