The Royal Kennel Club - Crufts 2027 Show Interviews and Highlights

Mark Beazley - Chief Executive, Kennel Club

Teresa Stretton, from Cambs, with her Pyrenean Smooth Faced Sheepdog, a 'new' breeed competting for the first time at Crufts.

The Kennel Club will announce the finalists for its prestigious Hero Dog Award (formerly Friends for Life) 2022, and open the public vote, ahead of the final taking place at Crufts. 

The 2022 finalists include: A special Guide Dog who gave an ex-dairy farmer his life and family back and set him on a path to support others with visual impairments; a rescue dog who was found abandoned and tied up with his littermates who went on to save his owner’s life and help other pets in need; a group of Newfoundlands which provide unique water therapy for suicide prevention and front-line emergency services staff; a Springer Spaniel fire investigation dog who heroically brings justice to victims of arson attacks; and a Golden Retriever who provides love and support to a young girl with cerebral palsy, helping her every day with her pain, anxiety and stress.

The 2022 award ambassador and actress Sally Phillips, who credits her dogs with bringing infinite happiness to her family, will be celebrating the finalists at the launch.

These five four-legged heroes are just some of the dogs being celebrated at Crufts 2022 for the ways that they transform our lives and make a difference for others.

Extraordinary Life of a Working Dog

Simba the Springer Spaniel and his handler Anton, from the London Fire Brigade 

Four-year-old Springer Spaniel, Simba, assists his handler Anton in the London Fire Brigade as a Fire Investigation Dog. Simba is a crucial member of this life-saving team because he can very quickly detect a variety of ignitable substances and help determine whether a fire has been started deliberately, ensuring justice for victims of horrific arson crimes.

Last year, Simba helped to bring murderers to justice after finding that accelerants had been used at a fatal fire in London. He indicated multiple points where an accelerant was found and his work at the scene helped with the police investigation. 

Simba also importantly provides great therapy to his two-legged colleagues, bringing a smile to their faces even after the toughest of days. As such trusted team members, Simba and Anton are now mentoring London Fire Brigade’s newest canine recruit, Watson, to help him learn the ropes. 

“Simba loves it,” Anton explains. “He’s brave and fearless - and during the pandemic he’s supported many other fire service teams in desperate times when they were short-staffed. 

“Simba is a hero to us and an integral part of the London Fire Brigade team.”

Hero Support Dog  

Newfoundlands Storm, Sonar, Bob and Walker, and owner, Pete

Pete Lewin, from Leicester, runs a non-profit organisation working with his Newfoundland dogs for suicide prevention. This amazing team provides support for staff from front-line emergency services and military veterans, and those struggling with their mental health. With the Covid-19 pandemic, this has never been more important. 

Pete, who himself is a long-standing front-line paramedic for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, has worked with water dogs as a hobby for around 25 years. Both his own experiences and feedback from others about the positive effects of swimming in open water with Newfies, who are natural water rescue dogs, made him realise the potential for a unique experience to support people with mental health needs.

"These dogs really are life-savers,” says Pete. “One guy came to us after he took an overdose. Before swimming with the dogs, he was suicidal, and now he works for the ambulance service. Whatever it is that the dogs have got, it is helping people."

Rescue dog hero

Chewie the rescue dog and his owner, Loretta 

Chewie was found abandoned with his littermates at just 12 weeks old. They were heartbreakingly found half buried in a bag with their paws and mouths taped up. 

Loretta and Ray Whiteley, from Leyland, Lancashire, adopted Chewie and were determined to care for him after his sad start to life. And Chewie fast became a very important family member and helped Ray, who has Multiple Sclerosis, with his confidence. 

In 2018, Loretta was in the garden when she heard Chewie barking frantically. She went inside to find Ray slumped in his chair in respiratory arrest, and Chewie jumping on his chest with all his might. One of the tricks Loretta and Ray taught Chewie early on was to do ‘CPR’ on their other rescue dogs. By the time Loretta got Ray out of his chair, he was in cardiac arrest. Loretta carried out CPR until the paramedics arrived.

Without Chewie, Ray would have died.   

Since his life-saving act, Chewie, alongside Loretta, has helped to raise over £5000 for animal charities and other pets in need. Their fundraising supported a memorial in honour of a puppy buried alive – in a situation much similar to Chewie’s – in Leyland, and nine rescue charities, as well as paying vets bill for an owner whose cat had been attacked, and helping a family who lost everything in a house fire. 

“Chewie will always be my little hero,” says Loretta.   

The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award  - Best Friends  

Golden Retriever Guide Dog and life-changer, Milo, and his owner, Scott

Scott Bailey, from Crewe in Cheshire, started losing his sight in 2019. “I lost all confidence and felt I couldn't be the dad my two girls deserved,” Scott explains. “I was scared and unable to leave the house alone. I went from working outdoors as a dairy farmer, to sitting within four walls, day in, day out.”

Scott applied for a guide dog but sadly, due to Covid-19 the country went into lockdown and his training with Milo the Golden Retriever was postponed. 

Eventually, in September, Milo finally became a full-time family member of the Bailey household and in November, he and Scott qualified together as owner and guide dog. 

Having Milo by his side has not only brought Scott confidence, independence and immeasurable happiness, but Scott’s life is often in Milo’s paws when they’re out alone together. Milo has prevented Scott from being injured by unexpected building works, and on one occasion, even stopped him from crossing a road during a dangerous police car chase. 

Milo’s impact has reached beyond just guiding. At home, Scott believes that Milo has given his daughters their dad back. And because of Milo, Scott has had the confidence to return to college where he is training as a counsellor to help others affected by sight loss. 

“I cannot believe the massive difference Milo has made to mine and my family's life,” says Scott. “He literally is my best friend and will always be hero dog to me.”

• 20,000 dogs competing for the world-class title of Crufts Best in Show
• The Arena showcasing fantastic displays and competitions 
• Good Citizen Dog Scheme training ring, the UK's largest dog training programme
• Dog activities Ring, where you can learn how to unleash your dog's potential
• Over 550 trade stands with special show offers and exciting new products for you and your best friend!

Steve Taylor chats to Bill Lambert, Breed, Health and Welfare Executive at The Kennel Club and Paul Keevil, breed enthusiast about taking the decision to get a puppy - what to look for, expect and what to be cautious of. They also chat about Discover Dogs, the ideal place for anyone wanting to buy a puppy or dog to come along to meet over 150 different breeds of dogs. Also the ideal place for any dog owner to visit if they want to find out more information about getting involved in activities with their dogs as well as a whole emporium of shopping!   

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/
https://www.discoverdogs.org.uk/

KENNEL CLUB EXPOSES ‘DANGEROUS’ VIRTUAL PUPPY BUYING WORLD AND URGES REVERSAL OF PANDEMIC BAD HABITS

If you want to #BePuppywise, it's important to get your puppy from a responsible breeder. There are many fantastic, passionate dog breeders out there who want to produce happy, healthy puppies. However, there are also other individuals who put profit before health and welfare, keeping their dogs in poor conditions and producing puppies that are unhealthy and may eventually require expensive veterinary treatment. 

We advise puppy buyers to go to The Kennel Club Assured Breeders. Members of this scheme all agree to follow good breeding practices and are inspected to maintain and guarantee standards. When searching for a puppy, our assured breeders will appear first on our Find a Puppy service and they will have the scheme's logo next to their name. You can search by area and your chosen breed. You can also browse the full list of The Kennel Club Assured Breeders.