Crufts 2024: Seaham dog owner hoping for memorable event

Crufts debutant Dean Anderson, who is a commercial heating engineer from Seaham, and his wife, Gemma, got Albert the German scent hound in 2021 following the loss of their miniature dachshund, Rodney.

After entering the three-year-old into a series of local competitions, Mr Anderson was told by a judge at the Belsay Horse Trials in Northumberland to start competing competitively.

Two ring craft lessons later, Albert started collecting trophies with best in show at both the Hound Show event in Stafford and the Darlington Dog Show.

Dean Anderson and Albert (Image: CRUFTS)

Mr Anderson said: "It's just been a crazy journey with him. I've always wanted to go to Crufts, but never in a million years did I think I'd be going to compete. Never.

"I've ramped up the practice. I go to ring crafts and I'm practising in the house.

"To be honest I didn't think it was going to be for me, so I wasn't practicing. I was just winging it, the dog was doing all the work.

"But as it started getting more serious, more judges were coming and saying that the dog had got it, but they could see I was nervous.

"It's probably down to me more than Albert now if he wants to go a bit further."

Albert the dog (Image: CRUFTS)

Mr Anderson will be well supported on Sunday afternoon when he steps onto the green carpet in Birmingham at Crufts, with his wife watching in the crowd along with friends and family at home.

2024 will be just the second year that the Bavarian Mountain Hound will be competing as their own breed at the world's biggest dog show after being placed on the Breed Register two years ago.

Following Albert's early success, his owner believes that the future is bright for the emerging breed.

He added: "Once he gets into that ring being shown, he just totally changes. He starts flicking his feet, it's weird.

"It's like he knows people are watching. He shows off a little bit. Every competition he has been in, he's won Best of Breed and winning Best in Show.

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"This is just my opinion, I think that the breed as it stands gets overlooked because they are not well known.

"I hope the breed does a little bit better, does get a little bit more recognised."

Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners.

Crufts is held from March 7-10, 2024 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4, and for further information and tickets visit crufts.org.uk