Video: Dog day afternoon at the Cruft’s of the north

More than 8,000 dogs are due to compete in the Leeds City and District Canine Association Championship Dog Show, which started on Friday continues until Sunday.

The opening of the event saw the utility and toy dogs being judged, while Saturday’s highlights include the judging of the hound and gundog groups.

The working, pastoral and terrier dogs will compete for prizes on Sunday, with the seven winners of each main category then vying for the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ title.

Liz Stannard, secretary of the Leeds Championship Dog Show, said: “It’s gone very well so far and we’re really pleased.

“We’ve had 2,500 dogs in out of the 8,300 we expect to see over the weekend and we’ve had a good crowd of people.”

She added: “A lot of things were cancelled, including Mfest here and other events around the county, like the Great Yorkshire Show.

“It has been a worry and there’s been a lot of dog shows cancelled. It takes 10 days to set up this show, what with all the tents, but luckily the weather has been fine and the ground is in very good condition.”

An estimated 157 breeds of pedigree dog are competing for prizes at the show, with the ‘Best in Show’ winning the chance to qualify for the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts.

Also included in the line-up are 20 of the country’s 29 most vulnerable breeds of dog, which are classed as having an annual registration figure of fewer than 300 puppies.

Visitors will have the chance to see these breeds in action and talk to experts to find out more about caring for dogs.

The Leeds Championship Dog Show is one of 37 group and general championship dog shows licensed by the Kennel Club throughout the year, which enables dogs to qualify for next year’s Crufts.