Crufts 2015

SillyMangoX

Is anyone else watching this or am I the only obsessive here? :P I'm really liking the flat coat retriever and malamute in the line up so far, kinda hoping the flat coat will get best in show!

Knine

I'm still at Crufts. We walked 19km around the halls yesterday & we are all shopped out. Loved the flat coat too. The Scottie is one to watch I reckon too.

borderlinemeath

I LOVE last nights Saluki, he's just beautiful.

On a more sinister note I just saw on my facebook feed that someones Irish Setter was poisoned and it could only have happened when he was on his bench at Crufts :eek:. Autopsy done and poison was in cubes of meat. They think it might be a personal attack on their kennels (they show IS and Afghan Hounds) but said to be vigilant regardless. Hope that link works as it's a closed group.

https://www.facebook.com/Dee.Milligan.Bott/posts/10206254601354626?fref=nf

Edit: Just had a look back, it was one of their Irish setters that won best of breed this year, not the one that was poisoned but one of their kennel nonetheless.

baby and crumble

Terrier & hound day is always my fave, the saluki last night is a stunner. I have to say though I fell for the whippet that got reserve. Such beautiful dogs.

Mad to hear about the poison though, that's shocking.

ShaShaBear

Have I read right - was one of the dogs poisoned?! :eek:

Stheno

ShaShaBear wrote: »

Have I read right - was one of the dogs poisoned?! :eek:

Yes awful story to read

ShaShaBear

Stheno wrote: »

Yes awful story to read

Just got told by my brother-in-law that's over visiting. That's probably the most despicable thing I have heard in a long, long time. Surely CCTV would have caught the culprit almost instantly? Never even mind the obvious emotional value of the dog (if it were me, I would be inconsolable), but the obvious financial value of a prize-winning show dog?

:mad:

borderlinemeath

Just saw somebody post on Clare Baldings twitter that a westie that showed is on a drip in the vets vomiting blood :eek:, people are suggesting that it's sabotage from an organised group. Bloody hell.

https://twitter.com/clarebalding/status/574563033403518976

Wellyd

I don't even have a dog and I'm totally addicted to Crufts! I love the malamute so much I'd love that to win best in show! My boyfriend has been trying to stop us getting a dog for about 3 years but after this I need a beagle!

Stheno

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Just saw somebody post on Clare Baldings twitter that a westie that showed is on a drip in the vets vomiting blood :eek:, people are suggesting that it's sabotage from an organised group. Bloody hell.

https://twitter.com/clarebalding/status/574563033403518976

That's awful if it is an organised group I hope they are caught asap

ShaShaBear

Stheno wrote: »

That's awful if it is an organised group I hope they are caught asap

I did see a lot of people suggesting manic "animal welfare" cults were suspected.

fiounnalbe

ShaShaBear wrote: »

I did see a lot of people suggesting manic "animal welfare" cults were suspected.

Animal welfare cults killing innocent animals?? That is disgusting, a terrible way to get a point across, I hope they are caught and jailed.

I wasnt at crufts this year, but I was last year and was shocked how people left their dogs by themselves in their stands just tied to them sleeping....I wasnt thinking of nutjobs killing them more that people might steal them they so pretty and well behaved.

boomerang

I'm shouting for Dublin the Flattie too, what a babe!

(Cancer is a major problem in the breed though)

Still the same old Crufts though, the Bassets were horrendous and as for the German Shepherd... How could he have been placed second in Group? It's a travesty! The poor dog!

Never occurred to me to wear a podometer at Crufts - I should have! I can say that my feet hurt LIKE HELL after each day.

Hope you had a great day, Knine and another great day today.

tk123

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Just saw somebody post on Clare Baldings twitter that a westie that showed is on a drip in the vets vomiting blood :eek:, people are suggesting that it's sabotage from an organised group. Bloody hell.

https://twitter.com/clarebalding/status/574563033403518976

Another story now about a poor setter dying after being poisoned

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/product.php/132258/

borderlinemeath

tk123 wrote: »

Another story now about a poor setter dying after being poisoned

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/product.php/132258/

That's the same one from the facebook post of the breeder. It came up on my fb first thing this morning I linked to her post on my first post above. That dogworld link I've tried a few different times from different places won't work for me?

tk123

borderlinemeath wrote: »

That dogworld link I've tried a few different times from different places won't work for me?

It's slow to load for me but gets there in the end

AN Irish Setter has died after being poisoned at Crufts, his co-owner believes.
Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction (Jagger), bred by Dee Milligan-Bott and co-owned by her and Alexandra Lauwers, collapsed after returning to Belgium the following day.

An post-mortem examination has revealed various poisons had been put in cubes of meat. A full toxicology report is awaited.

The police in Belgium are investigating and CCTV footage from the National Exhibition Centre is to be examined.

Jagger was one of several dogs bought to Crufts by Mrs Milligan-Bott and Ms Lauwers, and they were benched together, although it is understood the dogs changed places after one became agitated about being near a bitch in season. Jagger, who has one CC, was second in limit; Mrs Milligan-Bott’s Sh Ch Thendara Pot Noodle won best of breed.

Nothing appeared untoward until dogs and owners had returned to Mrs Milligan-Bott’s home on Friday.

"All the dogs were all running and playing together and Jagger seemed a bit tired, unable to keep up with the others,” she said. "Three or four hours later after getting back to Belgium he collapsed and by the time the vet arrived he was dead.

"The post-mortem showed that two or three different poisons were used and that it is likely it was administered on Thursday morning; we’re now waiting for exact toxicology reports. Whoever did this knew what they were doing, trying to get exactly the right type of poison with a slow release.

"They take this kind of thing far more seriously in Belgium and the police and Belgian SPCA searched Alex’s house and took blood from all the other dogs."
Mrs Milligan-Bott believes another of her dogs was the more obvious target. She did not name the dog but it is likely she was referring to Pot Noodle.

"I’m not sure which bench Jagger would have been on when this happened, but he would have moved bench. We had three dogs one side and two the other. There was a bit of a muddle. But you become paranoid after a while."

Another unusual occurrence was that the BOB and CC cards had been taken from the benches.

"This may not have been connected, but it makes you wonder,” Mrs Milligan-Bott said. "And at Richmond last year someone let one of my dogs off its bench and he went missing, before being found on someone else’s bench.

"There would have been windows of opportunity for someone to feed Jagger something at Crufts. It’s been suggested that someone’s really got it in for us, and to not let it get to us. There do seem to be too many coincidences. You go to shows trying to win, and one of our dogs is on a roll at the moment, and our kennel had a good day at Crufts on Thursday. We’re very proud of our record and maybe some people aren’t happy.

"But there’s no excuse for this. Sometimes you can’t prove anything but you know in your gut what has happened and that something very untoward is going on.”

Now Mrs Milligan-Bott, who also has Afghan Hounds, feels she will be unable to continue showing.

"It’s turning into such a nasty sport,” she said. "This has devastated me - I lost another couple of dogs recently and it’s so difficult to get over, even when they’re oldies. I’ll let the dust settle but I don’t think I’ll feel differently.

"I went back to Crufts on Saturday but I was like a zombie - I just thought ‘I don’t want to do this any more’. You can’t go around being too scared to leave your dog if you need to go to the loo or something - you can’t live like that.

"I want to warn people about what happened, as I wouldn’t wish it on anybody."

The Kennel Club said it was ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ to hear what had happened.

"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jagger’s owners,” said its secretary Caroline Kisko. "We understand that a toxicology report is due next week and that this matter has been reported to the police. We will work with them and help however we can.

"We are in contact with the owners and will do all we can to support them at this sad time."

SillyMangoX

That's so awful about the Irish setter, I really hope they can catch whoever is responsible.
I've been watching crufts all day on YouTube, tis a great cure for a hangover! Loved seeing Ashley and pudsey from britians got talent in the agility ring

Inexile

shocking about the poisonings its all a bit sick really.


While I love the Saluki and the Malamute I don't what either to win as am scared there will be a glut of people wanting one.
Maybe people have stopped buying breeds that win crufts but just in case I will be rooting from the most obscure/unobtainable breed in the bunch.
.

baby and crumble

Inexile wrote: »

Maybe people have stopped buying breeds that win crufts but just in case I will be rooting from the most obscure/unobtainable breed in the bunch.
.

I don't mind so much, especially if it helps the endangered breeds get more press and get numbers up. Anything that gets lesser known "hounds" some exposure I'm all for tbh.

I will say though some of the examples are really bad- that german shepherd was awful, the slope of the back looked painful actually.

Frigga_92

boomerang wrote: »

Still the same old Crufts though, the Bassets were horrendous and as for the German Shepherd... How could he have been placed second in Group? It's a travesty! The poor dog!

I completely agree. The bassett hound in the group judging was way over exaggerated and that german shepherd was very bad, awful example. I also thought the german shepherd's handler wasn't great.
The ibizan hound was very very skinny too, I know they're supposed to be very slender but you could see all the bones of the rear end and hips sticking out very clearly and pretty much all of the ribs.

I think I prefer the likes of the agility, flyball and the non-show parts of crufts. Some of the dogs that end up in the arena for group judging would make you worry about different breeds.

My favourite dog overall was the harlequin great dane in the working group judging. I thought she was really gorgeous and seemed very chilled out about the whole thing, definitely one of the more chilled out dogs I saw over the 4 days.

Did anyone see the Irish lad come second in the agility? I think his dog was called Roxy and his name was Neil/Niall. He did really well.

Outkast_IRE

Guys the marble coloured collie type dogs in the agility are they just border collies or some specific breed ?

I currently own a standard collie but that marble colouring is amazing looking

Just seen Pudsey in the agility, he is great for a 9 year old dog.

Stheno

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Guys the marble coloured collie type dogs in the agility are they just border collies or some specific breed ?

I currently own a standard collie but that marble colouring is amazing looking

Think it's called blue merle colouring don't think they are a different breed

tk123

I hate the way some of then hold the lead so tight almost lifting the dogs front legs up off the ground as they go around!

borderlinemeath

And when the bulldog was being examined the handler was tilting his head up and he was struggling to breathe, you could see his flews flapping trying to get air in

Outkast_IRE

borderlinemeath wrote: »

And when the bulldog was being examined the handler was tilting his head up and he was struggling to breathe, you could see his flews flapping trying to get air in

Yeah to be honest i have no time for that part of the competition, i like the agility and flyball etc.

Frigga_92

Why is your man holding the poodle like that during the interview? It looks uncomfortable.

Frigga_92

I'd like to see Dublin or Knopa win.

HeidiHeidi

26sdrawkcab wrote: »

Why is your man holding the poodle like that during the interview? It looks uncomfortable.

That was very odd. Maybe the poor dog just wanted a rest before the next showing?

HeidiHeidi

26sdrawkcab wrote: »

I'd like to see Dublin or Knopa win.

Retriever or collie all the way for me, they're both gorgeous dogs.

Although it's not all about how gorgeous they are, I know.

Frigga_92

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

That was very odd. Maybe the poor dog just wanted a rest before the next showing?

Yeah, you'd think so. In all the other interviews the winning dogs were just chilling on the sofa.

HeidiHeidi

26sdrawkcab wrote: »

Yeah, you'd think so. In all the other interviews the winning dogs were just chilling on the sofa.

My favourite interview so far was the Irish Wolfhound trying to climb onto his owners knee

borderlinemeath

The manchester toy terriers young handler was overjoyed with group 3!! Bless him!

SillyMangoX

Loved the expression on his face, he was so delighted! Lovely to see a couple of very young handlers this year. That maltese is exquisite though!

hdowney

I'm going to say I can't call it and I dunno who I want to win. I love most of them! my mam is thinking the Maltese might nab BiS. disgusted to hear about the poisonings. awful all together

HeidiHeidi

That vet fella reminds me of Roy Keane - same squinty-eyed intenseness about him!

(I'm a bit behind the live transmission I think)

HeidiHeidi

Ah, the big smiley head on the retriever

Frigga_92

Dublin is so relaxed, tail wagging the whole time, not a bother on him

The maltese looks lovely.

hdowney

the Scotty was like 'nope mate you ain't distracting me with that treat in your hand. I ain't stoopid! '

Pretzill

I'm watching on plus 1 so I'm sneaking away after this post - god awful about that poisoning - enjoying the fly ball and agility my little merle collie is lightening I'd love to do agility with him! Haven't seen the last group but I love Dublin, and the Bearded Collie though looks alone the Malamute should take it.

Am I the only one who hadn't heard of many of the show breeds this year?

Also couldn't agree more about the GSD breed surely that sloped back would hamper them as working dogs?

Frigga_92

Jesus that maltese is loving it!

HeidiHeidi

Why is the retriever posed the opposite direction from all the others? Is his right side his good side?

Awww, Dublin so nearly did it!

Frigga_92

YAY!!

Aw Dublin's handler looks delighted

Frigga_92

First Scottish Terrier since 1929 :eek:

Dublin was funny giving her bum a sniff :pac:

Knine

The BIS judge is a Border Terrier Specialist so I had reckoned it was not gonna be a day for the fluffy's. My predictions were right & he picked dogs that were capable of doing a days work. However I cringed when the Russian lady picked up the Scotty by the tail. Not acceptable & frowned upon in the UK.

Outkast_IRE

Knine wrote: »

However I cringed when the Russian lady picked up the Scotty by the tail. Not acceptable & frowned upon in the UK.

I seen that too and thought what the hell is she up to, although the dog didnt seem to bat an eyelid

Knine

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

I seen that too and thought what the hell is she up to, although the dog didnt seem to bat an eyelid

Handler is from Russia. Still not acceptable though. Terriers going to ground can be grabbed by the tail in an emergency but the show ring is not the place for it.

HeidiHeidi

Knine wrote: »

Handler is from Russia. Still not acceptable though. Terriers going to ground can be grabbed by the tail in an emergency but the show ring is not the place for it.

Handler sounded American when she was interviewed

Missed this, doesn't sound like a very edifying thing to do - for handler or dog!

Pretzill

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Handler sounded American when she was interviewed

Missed this, doesn't sound like a very edifying thing to do - for handler or dog!

Yeah she's American the dog was bred in America - I didn't see her lifting her by the tail either (although the tail looks like a handle if I did that to either of my two I might be missing fingers!!) Loved the retriever coming reserve and the joy in the handler.

Knine

Yeah just watched the terrier group now. Dog is actually based in Russia. I'm not sure the judge seen her pick him up by the tail either as that particular judge campaigned against handling in that fashion in the UK.

HeidiHeidi

When did she pick the dog up by the tail

Just watched the final bit back again, and the dog was on the ground being groomed (and handler then stuck the comb back in her hair :eek: Much as I love dogs I'm not sure I'd be a fan of that habit!), and then he was on his podium. Was it somewhere else in the show?

ETA - ah, just read the previous post to this - was it when he won his group?

Knine

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

When did she pick the dog up by the tail

Just watched the final bit back again, and the dog was on the ground being groomed (and handler then stuck the comb back in her hair :eek: Much as I love dogs I'm not sure I'd be a fan of that habit!), and then he was on his podium. Was it somewhere else in the show?

ETA - ah, just read the previous post to this - was it when he won his group?

It happened when she took him off the table after the BIS judge examined him. I don't think the judge seen it.