Britain and Ireland’s heritage in the world of dogs is totally unique, because no other nations can lay claim to so many home grown indigenous breeds of dog.

The Kennel Club presently recognises at least 65 such breeds, ranging from the massive Irish Wolfhound to the tiny Yorkshire Terrier, but also recognises that many of these breeds are not as popular or well known as they deserve to be.

On Saturday March 13th at 3:55pm in the NEC Arena, visitors to Crufts will have the opportunity to see 20 of Britain and Irelands’ rarest dog breeds in what is billed as A Celebration of Vulnerable British Heritage Dog Breeds. The presentation will be unique, as the handler/s for each breed will be dressed either as historic or literary character, significant to the heritage of their breed, or in appropriate period costume.

You will see His Grace, Henry the 2nd Duke of Newcastle with his Clumber Spaniels; and the legendary Jack Black, official rat catcher to Queen Victoria and his Manchester Terrier, PC John Gray with the most famous of all Skye Terriers, Greyfriars Bobby and Captain John Edwardes from Sealyham Mansion in Wales and his pack of working Sealyham Terriers.

Characters from fiction will include Bill Sykes and his Miniature Bull Terrier, Bullseye, Beatrix Potter and her Lakeland Terrier and even Mr Dandie Dinmont and his Terriers, as described by Sir Walter Scott. Throw in a couple of gamekeepers, some farmers wives, Nipper the HMV dog, WWI soldiers and even an Irish Leprechaun or two and you will be in for an unforgettable treat!

Following a major re-branding of Vulnerable Native Breeds by the organisers, British Heritage Dog Breeds, the aim of the event is to promote these rare British and Irish breeds, many of which regularly register less than 100 puppies a year, to the general public, to educate and inform about these breeds’ unique British and Irish heritage and entertain the packed arena crowd.
If you are unable to visit Crufts in person on the Saturday, then tune into the live streaming coverage on the internet, buy visiting the Crufts web site. http://www.crufts.org.uk/

For more information about the parade and these rare British and Irish dog breeds please visit the website dedicated to their celebration and preservation: www.british-heritage-dog-breeds.co.uk
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