An assistance dog and her devoted owner have defied the odds to claim the ultimate crossbreed prize at Crufts.
Francesca Cairns, from Sheerness in Kent, and her 23-month-old spaniel Delila grabbed top spot at Scruffts, the competition for non-pedigree dogs at the world’s greatest dog show.
Delila is trained to support Cairns, 19, with her autism and a heart condition, and the pair helped each other beat the nerves in front of thousands of spectators to be crowned winners on the famous green carpet.
“When I was in the main arena it was overpowering and incredible in all the best ways,” said Cairns.
“It was a lot for Delilah, and it was a lot for me, but we did it together and I think that made all the difference.
“We couldn’t do it unless we were together. I wouldn’t be here, there would be no way. I wouldn’t be able to make these crowds alone.
“When I found out I won it was so much, I couldn’t quite believe it. Seeing the crowd cheering for Delilah made it even better, as everyone knew how wonderful a dog she is.
“It’s the biggest thing I have ever done, and the biggest thing she has ever done. It was terrifying but also really fun. All of the other finalists were so nice, it was a nice community feel.
“I feel incredible, I don’t even have the right words – it’s all just a lot in the best way.
“It was just amazing to see that so many people cared about these mixed breeds as well as everything else.”
Cairns and Delila have been training together for little over a year and have juggled assistance training as well as Kennel Club classes in obedience and good citizen.
But the one-year-old has taken it all in her stride and has helped transform Cairns’ life in the process.
“Delilah is my assistance dog and we have been training since she was eight months old,” added Cairns.
“I have autism and a heart condition, so she lets me know when my heartrate peaks or when I am about to get really anxious. She is medically scent trained and is able to smell the change in my heartrate.
“Delila does day to day tasks like helping me pick things up, she can take things out of the washing machine, she can open small draws.
“She is psychiatric and medical alert, and we also do lots of Kennel Club training classes which has helped us through all of our training.
“She has always excelled in all kinds of training, so we decided to go to Scruffts. We entered into Prettiest Female and Good Citizen and won the Good Citizen.
“I couldn’t do education before, and I was really struggling but now I have completed college and we are about to go to university together.”
Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. Crufts is held from 9-12 March 2023 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4 and More4, and for further information and tickets visit crufts.org.uk
