A dog from Worsley, Manchester, has triumphed at Crufts by winning the Young Kennel Club (YKC) Good Citizen Dog Special Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes Competition on Friday 9th March.
Theo, a one-year-old Miniature Poodle, and his owner, 19-year-old Ellie Rivington beat ten other talented dogs to be crowned the winner of the 2018 Stakes Competition at the world’s greatest dog show. This is the third time the YKC competition has been added to the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme (GCDS) ring at Crufts.
The competition was created in 2005 to encourage prospective exhibitors who have passed their GCDS bronze award to take part in obedience competitions. The exercises included in the test are a combination of the current GCDS exercises and the pre-beginner obedience test. Building on the basic training skills learnt through the Good Citizen Dog Scheme, these new stakes help to bridge the gap between basic training and entering a competition, especially for junior members.
Dogs entered in the final qualified at heats held in 2017, by being chosen as the best YKC member in the heat. Heats were held at locations throughout the UK and competition was fierce.
This is Ellie and Theo’s first time competing at Crufts, and the pair train regularly at Swinton Dog Training Club. Ellie also qualified with her nine year-old Yorkshire Terrier in the same competition.
Proud owner Ellie said: “I’m so surprised we won! Theo’s never been anywhere like this. He’s very playful, happy and throws himself into anything.”