Great fun at East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club dog show in Whaplode Drove
Dogs and owners teamed up for an exciting show last weekend.
The Elizabethan Centre in Whaplode Drove played host to the East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, which was holding its first indoor event since the easing of Covid restrictions.
Dogs taking part had to combine clean fur and teeth with pristine behaviour, with each them having two opportunities to parade up and down the floor.
Judges were looking for the participants which came closest to the breed standard, with the best male and female dogs going head-to-head to be crowned the ‘best of breed’. On this occasion, a London owner’s female Staffie came out on top.
Martin Johnson, show manager at the Bull Terrier Club, said: “It went really well. We had a really good entry of dogs, and it was really well supported by the Staffordshire Bull Terrier owners.
“Local people came to watch, and the Elizabethan Centre staff were absolutely fantastic with helping us out.
“Showing a dog is like Miss Universe and Miss World combined.
“They have to be fit for function, have muscle and look the part, and they’ve got to have a smooth cut and be presented well.”
There are three levels of dog shows, with last weekend’s in the second tier. This July, a top-tier championship will be coming to Springfields Conference Centre in Spalding.
The East of England Agricultural Society will be hosting will be hosting a four-day event at Peterborough Showground, before competitors travel to the town for another leg of events.
“We get a lot of people coming from abroad, and from the top and bottom of the country,” Mr Johnson added.
“They get two shows over the weekend, so it’s definitely worth coming.”
