Crufts Story

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="097d2c03.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Linda Topliss"><U><B>Home Page</B></U></A></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Go To</FONT> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crufts Photos"><U><B>Crufts Pics Page One</B></U></A></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >  Go To: </FONT><A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crufts Two"><U><B>Crufts Pics </B></U></A><A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crufts Two"><U><B> Page Two</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Linda Topliss</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Linda Topliss"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> Crufts Story</div> <div> CRUFTS - The Biggest Dog Show In The World</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Thursday dawned; it was a very pleasant sunny morning. It is the first day of the Crufts Dog Show and we are going. (<I>We; being my niece Charlotte and myself).</I> I had just loaded the van for the journey and disaster struck… one foot slipped off the van step and I wrenched my knee. So, after administering a necessary painkiller, we set off. </div> <bR> <div> <B>£6:00</B> to park up for the day and <B>£11:50</B> to get in!!! (£17:50 = 42:24 Euro or 46:50 US Dollar's).</div> <bR> <div> The first port of call are the loos <I>(Powder Room), </I>fortunately they are not too crowded at 9:00am (The traditional British toilet queuing started later).</div> <bR> <div> Being as it was relatively early we spent some time looking at the different stalls - anything that is <I>doggy</I> is offered for sale at Crufts.</div> <bR> <div> Our travels eventually channelled us to the <B>Dog Training Weekly</B> stand, a cosy family run business with Mum, Dad and the Boys already hard at work, Angela takes time out to proudly show me her latest magazine for Heelwork To Music… Wow!!! Plenty of colourful illustrations coupled with an international flavour for the overseas readers, makes the magazine very interesting reading… Good luck with <B>Canine Showtime </B><I><B>International</B></I> Angela.</div> <bR> <div> <I>All the Crufts pictures were taken by Charlotte (If you saw my photography you would understand why) Charlotte has a very nice way with her victims - sorry - err... the people she photographs.</I></div> <bR> <div> By now the painkiller has stopped working and my knee was hurting again so off we go to survey the <B>Special Events</B> ring. There were many fine displays with <B>Dogs for the Disabled </B>being particularly very dear to my heart. The distinguished presenter - <B>Peter Purves </B>- with his magnetic charm presented this category.</div> <div> What these dogs do is astounding. Not only are they on duty twenty-four hours a day, they are also a companion, friend and helper. These dogs perform many tasks repeatedly, never tiring or getting aggravated like many humans would. They are trained to pickup objects the handler requests, they fetch and carry, load washing machines, open and close doors, work the pedestrian crossing lights, purchase goods from the shops and help the handler to undress if necessary. These dogs are trained to alert the handler to callers at their door and when the telephone rings. Interestingly when a fire alarm sounds the dog alerts the handler and then lies down. In the event of a house fire the dog leads the owner away from the source of the fire, this reaction is very different to what was taught in the other exercises. There are countless tasks these wonderful dogs can do; the training skills are phenomenal and their independence to their owners is moving. What a privilege to view these people and their super dogs.</div> <bR> <div> So off we hobble again continuing our journey of enlightenment. This time we met <B>Richard Curtis</B>, a well-known exponent of <B>Heelwork To Music</B>. He revealed to me his exciting new book that was being launched that day. I must admit it touched a chord seeing he had mentioned my wonderful Rottweiler - Rory - in his book. Rory is sadly no longer with me, but his name lives on through his skills in performing Heelwork To Music.</div> <bR> <div> Back to the <B>Special Events</B> ring to watch the electrifying displays of <B>Agility</B>, <B>Flyball</B> and pet dog training as well as the more specialised work of the <B>Police Dogs </B>and <B>Royal Air Force</B>. I met a police dog handler complete with his <B>Bloodhound</B>… I asked him how he liked Bloodhounds, his reply was “slobbery and smelly and yes, destructive”. Would he have another I asked? <I>(He was due to retire in a few years) </I>- “YES”. Was his reply.</div> <bR> <div> The <B>Police Crowd Control</B> event was breath taking; I wouldn't care to stand in front of these police dogs and not give way. </div> <bR> <div> The <B>Sniffer Dog </B>I want was specifically trained to detect money - at one time the dogs just searched for drugs but just like the officer pointed out, if the money doesn't go out of the country, the drugs won't come in. These very talented dogs demonstrated the different ways they alerted the handler to a <I>`find'</I>, quite amusingly some dogs sat staring transfixed at the locations where the drugs and weapons were <I>`planted'</I>, not moving a muscle, until the handler eventually broke their concentration with their toys.</div> <bR> <div> What a wonderful experience <B>Crufts</B> is, I met many people and old friends, one such friend being <B>Dennis Ashley.</B> Dennis has been very successful with his dogs for countless years.<I> (I hope I have persuaded Dennis to do a profile for this website… Dennis!). </I></div> <bR> <div> At the <B>Good Citizens</B> ring Richard Curtis was teaching <B>HTM</B> moves perfectly complimented in the remaining areas with teams of dogs and handlers displaying their diverse skills.</div> <bR> <div> Another well-known face at Crufts was the very talented and hard working <B>Peter Lewis</B>, a man who definitely doesn't blow his own trumpet. It always surprises me how much knowledge and experience this gentleman has. To read Peters profile <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id26_peter_lewis.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Click Here</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> The other surprise was the <B>Young Kennel Clubs</B>… <B>Obedience</B>… <B>Showing</B> and <B>Heelwork To Music</B>… what stars these youngsters are, their professionalism was exceptional. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Roy Bland</B> was another person I met at Crufts who I hope will write a profile for this website in the near future…'Runfold' Eddie who's impressive CV includes helping to locate lost and stolen dogs... thanks Eddie. And not forgetting <B>Maggie Backhouse</B>… a fabulous lady. Your profile too Maggie?</div> <bR> <div> Young <B>Lucy Cook</B> and <B>Briar</B> gave a refreshing demonstration. Briar is renowned for not doing as she is told. Unfortunately for Lucy, Briar literally demolished the basket of flowers she was supposed to retrieve; Lucy not only openly laughed but carried on with her routine AND picked up the spilt flowers… still smiling throughout.</div> <div> Still, at least Briar behaved reasonably well when they partnered <B>Stevi</B> and <B>Heather.</B></div> <bR> <div> The moral of the story is - dogs are fun - not machines - Laugh and the world laughs with you… try it.</div> <bR> <div> Let us all try and inject elements of fun and pleasure into our dog routines to counter the strenuous periods spent preparing for demonstrations and competitions!</div> <bR> <div> Linda</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>