Lochmaben’s Helen Gray and her chocolate labrador retriever, Maverick, are performing at this year’s Crufts.
The delighted handler and her nine-year-old pet – Nicholforest Top Gun – have been selected to represent the Kennel Club as part of their training scheme’s display team at the NEC Birmingham.
She told the Standard: “I am very excited that we are going to Crufts.
“I have been there several times to cheer on agility friends and trainers in the main arena, and to watch friends in the show ring, but this is the first time I’m going as a participant.
“It’s very nerve racking and I hope that I don’t transfer those nerves to Maverick.
“But, whatever happens, it will be entertaining to the crowds and we always say we take the best dog home, and the dogs are pets, not robots.”
Helen was thrilled to be chosen as one of 10 teams to represent the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme as part of the Gold Award Display Team.
They will be taking part in three displays a day on Thursday, March 9, and Friday, March 10.
Before then, they face a hard run in of five training sessions over the next six weeks to gel the 10 teams and so they can learn the routines and tests ready for the display.
The display team is open to all handlers and dogs which either completed the gold test or can complete the exercises to a high standard.
Helen added: “Applications were taken from across the country and whittled down to just 22 who were invited to an in-person selection day.
“This day was full of exercises to test the dogs obedience, confidence and personality in front of a Kennel Club panel.
Helen has been training with the Solway Dog Training Club at Cummertrees for 12 years and Maverick gained his Gold Award at the age of two.
