The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a breed teetering on the brink of extinction, but it still won the hearts of the judges at the Kennel Club’s Best of British Companion Dog Show at West India Quay on Saturday 18 July.

Jackson, owned by Sheila Bullock and Paul Keevil from Dormandsland, Surrey, took home the coveted Best in Show prize and helped to raise the profile of his breed, which is on the Kennel Club’s British Vulnerable Breeds list because it numbered only 119 puppy registrations with the Kennel Club last year. It is estimated that a breed needs at least 300 in order to maintain their future survival.

Jackson was not the only British vulnerable breed at the event, which was organised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of dog shows and the various ways that they benefit the health and welfare of pedigree dogs. Visitors were able to meet representatives from some of the other vulnerable breeds, such as Norwich Terriers, Lancashire Heelers and Manchester Terriers, many of which were accompanied by handlers dressed in historic costumes associated with the breed including Queen Victoria’s Rat Catcher, Jack Black, who will not have previously been seen around the docks for quite a few years! Visitors were also able to see dozens of other breeds, whether cross breed or pedigree, that attended on the day.

The event gave dog owners and their four legged friends an opportunity to try their hands and paws at showing for the first time, and to win prizes in various classes including the glossiest coat, waggiest tail and the Best British Pedigree. Other winners were:

Dave and Sharon Southwell from Thetford, Suffolk, won with Mr Bumble and Scarlett, Norwich Terriers (and also British Vulnerable Breeds, with only 152 puppy registrations last year) in the Open Pedigree Class and Open Puppy Class respectively.
Anna Webb from Islington, North London, won with Molly, the Miniature Bull Terrier (and also a British Vulnerable Breed with only 225 puppy registrations last year) in the Companion Dog Club Class.
Mrs Merrills from Welling in Kent, won with Dudley, the Chihuahua, in the Loveable Expression Class.
Denis Glackin from Poplar, East London, won with Burnsfield, the Jack Russell in the Waggiest Tail competition.
Judie-Ann Fursland from East London won with Willow, the Rottweiler in the Glossiest Coat category.

Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club, said: “We are delighted that Jackson won our celebration of 150 years of dog showing, which will help to raise the profile of the lovely Dandie Dinmont breed. We were really pleased to see how much fun all of the dogs that took part were having.

“The day really gave people the chance to find our more about how dog shows can help improve the future of our pedigree dogs and gave people and their dogs the chance to have a go at showing for the first time, and to see if it’s something that they would like to take up as a hobby in the future.”

Paul Keevil, who won with Jackson, said: “I was delighted when Jackson came home with the prize for the best dog on the day. I have no doubt that the judge saw what a happy, healthy dog he is and how much he loves life and that is why he came back with the prize.

“It’s a double celebration for us to win the show, because Dandie Dinmonts are a vulnerable breed and this will really help potential dog owners to find out about this wonderful breed and whether they might be right for them.”

The event was part of the month long Best of British Festival that was held at West India Quay. All money raised from the show will be donated to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.