discover dogs

Discover Dogs at Crufts 2008

It was the eighteenth year that the worlds premier dog show had been staged at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the Kennel Club try to ensure that the event is well advertised and organised.
Originally the show occupied five halls at the NEC, however the event expanded into the Arena last year and also won the ‘Special Events Promoter of the Year’ Award from the NEC Group.
Over 20,000 dogs attend the show including around 1,000 from overseas; around 150,000 visitors also attend during the four days the show is staged.
With nearly 500 trade stands present, the breeds being exhibited on that day and the Kennel Club trying to ensure that all the breeds scheduled on the other three days available for the public to observe in “Discover Dogs”, there is something of interest for all who share our love of all things canine.
With each example of the breed, visitors will find experienced and knowledgeable owners who provide essential advice on dog training, dog health, what to look for in a pedigree puppy and what to ask a dog breeder.
The secretary of the Deerhound Club, Mary Girling asks for volunteers to “crew“ our stand at Discover Dogs and as I live relatively close I usually offer my services.
The stand was one of over 190 at “discover Dogs” and was set up by John Francis & his partner Dee. They ensure that deerhounds are represented with the taste & dignity they deserve, they also ensure it is carefully taken down, stored and ready for use next year.
I was asked if I could provide cover on Thursday morning, “Toy and Utility day”. I could and subsequently arrived bright and early trying to miss the majority of the traffic, which can be heavy at peak times.
As usual when I arrived everything was ship-shape, nice pictures of the hounds, both young and old, relevant breed standards decorating the walls and handouts provided by the club available to be given to those who seem generally interested all neatly arranged.
I had taken Killoeter Grilse with me to represent the breed, he won the dog challenge certificate at Crufts 2007. He had been to Discover Dogs three times before and would not be fazed by the procedure.
As usual he represented a typical specimen of the breed by lying down most of the time and resting, how ever when roused, he duly licked everyone within reach and wagged his tail. After all he enjoys the attention!
The people who visit the stand vary enormously from the young to the elderly, lone people, couples to complete families having a day out. They come from far and wide; I had visitors from America, South Africa, Australia, around Europe and even from the UK and they all expect you to talk about your beloved deerhounds!! Some of them tell tales of their hounds both past and present.
I also had visits from club members, again, some who lived close and were just shopping and popped in to say hello, others from Europe and the USA who were here all week to see the show.
There was one lady from the USA who would be returning home from Crufts this year with a new puppy, “how exciting”.
At 12.30 Jenny & Geoff Grimshaw arrived to crew the stand and manage the crowds for the remainder of the day. They had brought two of their bitches, Greyflax Mystic to Jamalison and Jamalison Melody with them.
I asked if they would look after Grilse whilst I went for a browse and they agreed, so off into the crowds I went.
An hour or so later I returned with a host of goodies collected from the trade stands, also a book and also a painting of my puppy that an artist had painted from a photographed she took when she attended the 2007 Deerhound Breed Show.
I could hardly see Jenny and Geoff for the crowds, Jenny was inside the pen with two hounds, Geoff with Mystic on the outside, both surrounded by the public.
Jenny remarked on how everyone was so pleased to see dogs and bitches from different kennels getting on so well together. She also remarked that Grilse had done a lot of sniffing, but Melody had remained a lady throughout.
It was time for me to go so whilst I tried to gather my belongings, the shopping, free samples, book, painting, dog, coat, lead etc, Grilse decided to make light work of Geoff’s sandwiches and they were “gone” before I noticed.
That was it; time to go now, so I gave my farewells, made my way through the crowds to the car park and home for tea reflecting on the occasion, the delight of some of the public in seeing our breed for the first time, others renewing old acquaintances.
I am privileged to be in the position to be able to represent the Deerhound Club at the event and look forward to meeting the public at next years Discover Dogs’

John Wiggan

Jwiggan268@hotmail.com