Money is no object in top dog quest

IT’S not a dog’s life if you’re getting €5,000 worth of grooming and training.

That's the average sum more than 100 Irish dog lovers have spent getting their dogs to the Crufts Dog Show, which opened yesterday.

"You spend a lot of money but you don't get much out of it. It's more of a passion," said Louisa Garton, a Dalmation owner from Kildalkey, Co Meath.

"It's good craic at the show when the Irish get together. We all know each other and support each other."

Her two dogs are among 22,000 entries at Crufts, the most famous dog show in the world. It was first held in 1891 at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington and went on to make a fortune for its founder, Charles Crufts. When he died, his widow handed over responsibility for the show to the English Kennel Club in 1948 and it is now held in the NEC centre in Birmingham.

The Irish contingent at Crufts is small but well known. There are entries from Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Limerick and others. In 1991, Ralph Dunne from Co Cavan won the prize of Crufts Supreme Champion for his Clumber spaniel.

With more than 177 breeds of dogs at the show, the 120,000 visitors have a chance to see rarities like the Shih Tzu, the Xoloitzcuintli (the hairless Mexican dog), and the Kerry blue, which was a favourite dog of Michael Collins.

Dog owner Karen Clayton from Belgooly, Co, Cork, is preparing for her debut at the show on Saturday. She admitted to being "slightly nervous" but optimistic about the prospects of her terrier, Tamzin Alexander.

"Apparently, a lot of dogs at the show are handled by professional handlers, so I hope it goes well. But it's great whether he does well or not," she said.

She got into dog shows by accident when a friend urged her to enter the terrier.

"That was only last April. But since then, he's won a major a championship show which allowed him to qualify for Crufts."

Crufts has been visited in the past by Britain's most famous streaker, Mark Roberts, who wore the logo 'Pedigree Bum'.

But for most of the contestants, it's a serious business. "It is very important because a win at Crufts means a great deal. You never win a lot of money but it enhances the value of your dog enormously," said Wendy Jackson of the Irish Kennel Club.