With Crufts this month, Heather Harris investigates the biggest dog show in the world and discovers that any dog can have its day, including a dedicated pack in Herts
WHEN it comes to dog shows, Britain has long taken the lead. And it all started with a dog biscuit.
Aged 14, Charles Cruft worked as a post boy at Spratt’s Patent Ltd, home of the Spratt’s Meal Fibrine Dog Cake – a name that was as hard to swallow as the product itself. Seeing a business opportunity, Charles was soon a travelling salesman, marketing these tasty treats to an enthusiastic canine-friendly audience.
As his career blossomed at Spratt’s and his reputation for marketing spread he decided a great ploy would be to set up a dog show. He ran six annual terrier shows at London’s Royal Aquarium. But the seventh was more ambitious. Some thought he was barking up the wrong tree but Charles proved them wrong when in 1891 the first Cruft’s Dog Show opened to all breeds at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington. A whopping 2,437 entries came from all over the country and the event even gained royal approval with a visit from Queen Victoria.
Scamper on 125 years and last year’s anniversary show (held at NEC Birmingham after outgrowing London) attracted an enormous 24,000 dogs and their owners over four days. Almost 160,000 people came through the turnstiles – 15,000 more than Glastonbury Festival.
What’s on in the arena is now matched in size by the trade stands selling more varieties of dog biscuits (and everything you could ever possibly need for a pooch) than young Charles could have ever imagined.
Channel 4 with top dog presenter, Clare Balding, presents daily coverage of the event and the Best in Show champion still makes headlines around the world (and is quickly snapped up by dog food advertisers).
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2017 من Hertfordshire Life.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2017 من Hertfordshire Life.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Explosive history
With bonfire night this month, author Harry Smee recounts the explosive story of his family’s firework company, Brock’s, creators of wonders and war-changing weapons
A Day In The Life Of... A Jewellery Designer
Laurie McGrath, senior designer at Harriet Kelsall bespoke jewellery in Halls Green, gives an insight into her working day
Sniffig out clues in THE ASHES
Meet the fire investigation dogs securing convictions against arsonists and murderers who otherwise may go free
The greatest traveller
Exploring ancient civilisations and rising powers, Violet CressyMarcks became the most travelled woman of her age. Fifty years after her death we look at her incredible life
Return of the Queen of Romance
Twenty years after the death of record-breaking novelist Dame Barbara Cartland, Gillian Thornton talks passions, plots and a new audience with her son at the family home in Essendon
In bed with CELEBS
Marking its 70th year, Welham Green soft furnishings company Ashley Wilde has grown from a pile-it-high, sell-it-cheap business into an industry leader with A-list partnerships
Roam with a view
We may not have coastline or mountains, but Herts has beautiful views all the same, if you know where to look
Saving Mrs Tiggy-Winkle
The secret life of a much-loved British mammal and simple steps we can take at home to stop its extinction
A walk down Surreal Street
Paul Crowley draws on his graphic designer’s eye to capture scenes from the country to the street, all tinged with surreality
5 minutes with
Carole Spiers, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce member and founder of International Stress Awareness Week
