Dogs little and large did their local owners proud at Crufts this year.

Among them was pocket rocket Klassna First Prime, a 14-month-old Pomeranian dog owned by Abergavenny Chronicle general manager Mary Purcell and her husband Neil.

‘Teddy’, as he’s known to his friends, has become something of an office mascot at 13 Nevill Street, but in his ‘other life’ at Crufts on Friday he was placed third from 17 entries in the Junior Dog class for his breed.

“It’s his first time at Crufts and we’re absolutely thrilled,” said Neil. “It’s something we really enjoy doing. Teddy’s just a pet and very mischievous. He spends all day in reception here and greets everyone who comes in.”

The Purcells, who have previous experience of showing Shelties, became Pomeranian fans quite by chance.

“We sold our caravan to a lady who brought two Pomeranians with her and we just fell for them straight away,” said Neil.

“I get really nervous before going into the show ring but Teddy’s a natural. The hardest part is all the grooming!”

Earlier this week Teddy came face to face (or rather ‘knee’) with a multi-prize winning Chesapeake Bay retriever called Jack - KC registered as Penrose Jack Tar - who belongs to well-known owner/breeder Janet Morris from Goytre.

Janet, who has previously bred more than 60 champion Chesapeake Bay Retrievers worldwide, was successful with three entries at Crufts this year.

“I wasn’t planning to go, but I had a friend from Denmark staying here who loves handling dogs in the showring and we ended up taking four!”

She describes Chesapeakes as ‘the 4x4s of the retriever world - great on the river and foreshore’ and Jack as ‘a powerful, strong-swimming working dog that’s really soppy with little children’.

The seven-year-old gentle giant, who won this year’s Good Citizen’s Dog Scheme breed class, just happens to be top Chesapeake in the UK and all-time breed leader, with 32 challenge certificates.

Another of Janet’s dogs Longmeadow Dundela’s McIntosh (Josh for short) was placed second in the Open Dog class for his breed while Penrose You Bet (Betsy) won the Working class and the Bitch Challenge Certificate.

“I hardly ever show Betsy. She’s previously won two challenge certificates and a field qualification so she’s gone from nothing to full champion!” said Janet. “It was a brilliant day, particularly because we had dogs entered from America, Holland, Eire and the Czech Republic.”

Another Chesapeake, bred by Janet and owned by Branwen Griffin from Raglan, was also successful at Crufts. She’s KC registered as Penrose Shoot the Moon but known as Seren.

“Seren’s just a pet and I only show her for fun so to win at Crufts is absolutely amazing. I couldn’t believe it,” said Branwen.

“I had her from Janet as a puppy and she’s now five. She goes everywhere with me. She’s the best dog in the world - my best friend.

“I only show her very infrequently, so winning the Good Citizen Class and coming second in the ‘Limit’ class was brilliant.”

Govilon owner Sally Parr is also celebrating third place in a strong ’international top dogs’ Open class of 21 entries, with her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Kymin Neptune (Harry), having recently been ‘best of breed’ in Scotland.

Sally describes them as ‘the smallest retrievers with the longest name’ and says Harry’s

mum was the tolling dog at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre.

“Harry loves life, and is truffle-trained too!” she said.

Other local successes included Mr S J and Mrs A J Tyler of Usk who won first place in the Limit Dog class for Dobermanns with their Jojavik Bulletproof Bomb.

And Abergavenny-based Mr C Webb and Miss R Bates claimed third place in the Junior Dog Samoyed class with Rosskaja Dancing on Ice, Reserve (4th) Junior Bitch with Rosskaja Ice Dancer and Very Highly Commended in the Yearling Bitch class with Rosskaja Cornelia Marie.