Crufts Best in Show accused of ‘harsh handling’

A petition is calling for the winner of Crufts’ Best in Show to be stripped of her title for the ‘unduly harsh handling’ of Scottish Terrier, Knopa.

‘Made a mistake’

Rebecca Cross can be seen on TV footage, picking up the dog by her neck and tail. The Kennel Club warned the handler, but “despite repeated requests not to do so, she went ahead”.

There have been various complaints on Crufts Facebook page and other social media sites, while a petition calling for Rebecca to lose her title has received more than 71,000 signatures to date.

Rebecca told Dog World she had grown up showing dogs, but admitted she “made a mistake” and had apologised to the Kennel Club.

“I didn’t do it on purpose, it was just habit,” she said. “But I’m taking no notice on what’s being said on Facebook etc – it will pass, and the people commenting aren’t real dog people. They are making a stance because they have nothing better to do.

“It’s a matter of opinion – I’m not really concerned about it. I think silence is the way to handle it.”

No place at Crufts

The Kennel Club released a statement addressing the Facebook posts: “It was made clear to the handler at the show that it is not acceptable to pick a dog up in this way, and despite repeated requests not to do so, she went ahead.

“The handler is from the US where it is customary to pick up terriers in this way, but it has no place at Crufts and this is put in writing to all handlers before the show.”

This year’s show has been plagued with bad press after an Irish Setter died from poisoning. The owner believes the dog was given poisoned meat while at Birmingham’s NEC.