Zak aims to be top dog for Banbury at Crufts

A dog owner from Banburyshire is getting ready to take her Short Fox Terrier pet to Crufts next month.

Sandra Grant will be taking her pedigree pet Zak to the prestigious canine competition at the NEC in Birmingham from March 10-13 in what is now its 125th year.

This year will be the third time Mrs Grant has taken Zak, where he will be looking to be chosen as ‘Best in Class’ against other dogs from across the country. He came in third position in ‘Open Dog’ last year and won his class as a postgraduate the year before.

Mrs Grant said: “Everything is going fine for the day. He has got his own routine and we are making sure he is in top condition. He is just a normal dog and a great companion.

“Crufts is a fantastic day and so well run. As well as taking your dog it is a chance to meet up with friends in beautiful surroundings.”

Smooth Fox Terriers are one of the oldest of the English dog breeds, bred to follow hounds and flush out foxes when they go to ground.

They are a hardy, predominately white so they don’t get confused with the fox and are a small, short coated breed.

They are listed by the Kennel Club as a vulnerable native breed because there are so few bred each year, about 130.

Zak has also been shown at Championship and breed shows in Ireland, Germany, France and Belgium. He has won many titles and awards and his son Hector is also doing well in the show ring.