The Yorkshire Vet: Why Crufts isn't his usual cup of tea...

Partly because there wasn’t much on telly and partly because it’s incumbent on a vet to remain up to date with modern trends, we watched some of the action at Crufts last weekend. I have to say, it’s not my usual cup of tea, but Anne insists it is essential viewing. The bits I saw reminded me a bit of Eurovision, with a strong emphasis on performance and visual impact. I’d been invited to attend this annual dog festival in person on a few occasions, but never managed to make it. So, once again, I watched from the sofa.
By Julian Norton
Published 25th Mar 2023, 23:45 BST

In the early rounds, our eyes were drawn towards a dog in the working category. This fluffy character- which looked very much like a sturdy cockapoo, but was in fact a Lagotto Romagnolo- stood out as a fine specimen. His coat was immaculate and his markings looked as if he was wearing a smart woollen tank top. The breed was not one that either of us had come across before. As Peter Purvis explained, its role had evolved from hunting ducks in Italy, to finding truffles. This gentle pastime seemed to fit very nicely with the dog’s jolly demeanour. We watched as be-suited judges, dressed as smartly as any Harley Street consultant, lifted tails and palpated shoulders and jaws. Was this really a thorough assessment, I wondered? Nevertheless, he made it through to the next round and we switched over the continue with our harrowing trip to Happy Valley.

By Sunday evening, it was time for a recap of some of the best bits. Dancing dogs and athletic collies dashing over, round and under things provided some excitement and drama. I looked at Emmy asleep in her beanbag and wondered if she still had the potential to do the agility. Maybe next year? One thing was for certain, we both stood no chance in the dancing dog/owner competition. Soon, the drama of “Best in Show” was approaching. Owners and dogs paraded around the ring and it was hard to say whether the canine or the human was enjoying it most. A wolfhound with luxurious long and flowing hair covered the ground effortlessly. A Standard Poodle was next with different hair all together. Peter Purvis explained the hair cut was functional- the bulbous fluff around the carpal joints was designed to keep warm the legs whilst swimming to collect ducks from cold lakes. And the shaved rear end allowed improved streamlining through the water. Apparently.

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The little fluffy, truffle-hunter was back, enjoying his second time in the ring. His tail continued to wag and Anne and I again agreed he should win. With one more circumnavigation of the ring for each dog, the tension was rising. Peter announced that the chief judge had made his decision and he wandered over to a table to sign some important documents before the final announcement. This was the perfect time to build jeopardy and cut to a commercial break, which was littered with adverts for allegedly super-tasty and uber-healthy dog foods, which lived in the fridge next to the yoghurts. We could hardly wait until the coverage resumed.

Julian Norton, The Yorkshire VetJulian Norton, The Yorkshire Vet
Julian Norton, The Yorkshire Vet

The judge had made his judgement. First, he strode purposefully to an Old English Sheepdog. It was a fine specimen and deserving of reserve champion. As tension reached a crescendo, the judge marched over to the Lagotto, whose name was Orca, and shook hands with his delighted (and rather surprised) owner. Cameras snapped as the champion stood on a podium next to a huge trophy, an emerald green rosette and an enormous bottle of champagne. Whether Orca was aware of his monumental achievement not was not clear. One thing was for sure: his tail had not stopped wagging all week. That, alone, deserved the prize.

Related topics:CruftsHappy Valley