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Winning Crufts Would Be Bliss

THREE dogs from the Henley area will make their debut at this year's Crufts.

Sarah Whitehead, from Maidensgrove, will be showing her new puppy, Bliss, at the four-day show in Birmingham, which begins on Thursday.

She will also be entering six-year-old Quill, who is a veteran of the competition.

Bliss is a Japanese spitz, a small, rare breed for the UK, and Quill is a kooikerhondje, a spaniel-like breed of Dutch ancestry.

Mrs Whitehead, who is a dog trainer and behaviourist, said: "This is the first year that I have applied with two separate breeds.

"I am going to be showing them both at the same time, which will mean a lot of running about for me."

Quill has had success at Crufts since first being entered at the age of one.

He was named best puppy in breed that year and has been placed every year since. Last year, he also won his class.

Bliss, who is just over a year old, is in the junior class.

"It is the first time that I have had her breed," said Mrs Whitehead. "Bliss has been so easy to train and so sweet.

"She is definitely a diva and a princess. She is pure white and fluffy. Everyone always asks how I keep her coat so clean but her breed sheds the dirt from their coat. Unfortunately, my house doesn't have the same technique.

"I have always been interested in the Japanese spitz. I often show Quill opposite to their breed ring, so I get talking to the owners and saw how enthusiastic the breed is, so I decided to get one."

She said the two dogs were "best of friends".

Mrs Whitehead added: "Crufts is always a fun day out. I will also be at the show on Friday, not competing but on the Discover Dogs stall.

"This is like a meet and greet stand for every breed that is competing in the show. It is for people to ask owners questions, to see the nature of the dogs and to just give them a cuddle.

"I am always excited about it. It's time catch up with people that I only really get to see once a year. And I am looking forward to seeing how Bliss and Quill do."

Mrs Whitehead also has a retired border collie-Samoyed mix called Skye, who is 12.

Paul and Julie Humphreys, of St Mark's Close, Henley, are entering two of their four Irish setters.

Mrs Humphreys has been competing at Crufts since 1983 and her husband followed suit in 2004 when they got married.

However, this will be Mrs Humphreys' last year of showing as she has been asked to be a judge from 2025.

The couple have entered two of their bitches, four-year-old Ci Ci, who has competed at Crufts previously, and two-year-old Wendy, who will be making her debut.

Their eldest dog, Nina, five, has showed before but has just had a litter of 17 puppies so is resting.

Their most recent addition, Kimmi, is too young to show at only four months.

Mrs Humphreys said: "Ci Ci has done amazingly well. She has been awarded two reserve challenge certificates and five challenge certificates, making her worthy of the title of champion.

"We show the two of them most weekends and travel around the country.

"Paul had never shown a dog before he met me but has now got into judging."

She continued: "These are not working dogs but we do train them in how to walk around the ring and we start them quite young. Ci Ci and Wendy will be bathed, groomed and trimmed ready for the show. They will be showing next Friday as it is gun dogs only. It is the biggest group of dogs that attend Crufts."

Mrs Humphreys is looking forward to becoming a judge.

She said: "The Kennel Club approached me and asked me to judge Irish setter dogs in 2025. It is such a big achievement for me."

Diana Webber, from Henley, is entering three of her six whippets.

Scarlet, five, Levi, three, and 22-month-old Wrangler, all took part last year. The elder two have both placed first in breed previously and Wrangler achieved fourth place last year. Ms Webber said: "Actually four of my whippets qualified this year as my 10-year-old veteran, Raven, did too but four dogs at Crufts is far too much to handle."

Recalling last year's show, Ms Webber said: "Wrangler was really good. He is a little show off but was well behaved and seemed to want to please me.

"I do basic training with all the dogs from right when I get them. I teach them the word drop from early on. But it is in their nature to please their mummy. The dogs do get on with each other."

Ms Webber said that as the whippet is a short-haired breed preparing the dogs for showing is easy.

She said: "Wrangler, like the others, has become well trained in standing or sitting still.

"My latest addition, Indy, is proving to have all the qualities to be a show dog s as well."

Indy is a blue and white whippet and 22 months old.

Ms Webber has been entering her dogs at Crufts since 1991 and this year Scarlett and Levi are in a several classes.

Both qualified for the good citizen class. This is for dogs that come when they are called and are shy. It is to test the basic obedience of the dogs.

The purpose of the test is to encourage Bronze Award achievers to take part and enter the world of obedience competition.

The pair are also in the racing and coursing classes. This is lure coursing and if they succeed then they can get into further classes. Lure coursing is a competition for dogs to use their ability to run fast and visually focus on motion.

Wrangler will also be taking part in the lure coursing but in the yearling category, which is for dogs aged between one and two.

Ms Webber said: "I am not nervous about the competition. I am fairly confident that my dogs won't let me down or lose. I am hopeful for this year and that Indy will make her debut next year."

Cheryl Biddlecombe, from Sonning Common, is showing her 10-month-old dog Frankie for the first time. He is a briard, a French breed of a shepherd dog.

Ms Biddlecombe, who has been showing briards at Crufts for more than 50 years, said: "Frankie has qualified for Crufts three times now.

"He has been to five dog shows and has done really well. I credit part of his success to his mother, Fergie, who is a champion and Crufts veteran.

"Frankie will be in the puppy class and will be showing. It is a bit like a beauty competition as he will have to walk, trot and stand correctly. He absolutely loves going into the ring. I would never take a dog that didn't enjoy the show.

"The standard blueprint of a briard is that they are wary of strangers and can be quite timid, but he is all over people like a rash."

Frankie will be accompanied by a handler, Toni Westcock-Smith. Ms Biddlecombe said: "At my age I didn't want to be running around the ring and Toni is such a good friend and a brilliant handler.

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