| Mic Martin Click photo for larger image and details |
Mic Martin (www.micmartin.co.uk) is one of the dog trainers on the television programme Dog Borstal. Owners of dogs with problems of various natures endure the no nonsense approach of the show’s trainers, and emerge at the other side stronger, knowing more, and with a much better behaved dog.
Mic has trained dogs for many years, to perform many different behaviours, and is also the Patron of Support Dogs. At Crufts, in return for a donation to the charity, Mic will be trying to solve dog training problems.
The British Kennel Club has come in for a real mauling recently, and consequently more and more organisations have bailed out of Crufts 2009. I think the real question here is not can we live with the Kennel Club, but more can we live without it?
I met and interviewed Dr. Roger Mugford at his Train and Behave Week. He’s a real character who’s lots of fun and not afraid to speak his mind. He’s also passionately committed to dogs; his own and those whose owners appeal to him for training or legal help. He is extremely likeable in person.
Roger invented the Halti, and sells many variations on a Kong theme. You can find his website at www.companyofanimals.co.uk
Here’s some thoughts from Roger about Crufts and the contribution of showing to the development of dogs:
| Who looks after the Huskies? Click photo for larger image and details |
Usually when you're walking your dog, any thoughts of a toilet nature are concerned with what the dog is doing. Sometimes, however, the "call of nature" is speaking to you, and at that point if you're out alone with your dog, just what do you do?
As this video shows there is more to Crufts than show dogs on the green carpet. In this clip you see an overview of some of the wonderful shopping opportunities, as well as Grommit of Wallace and Grommit fame, celebrating the Kennel Club's Good Citizen Scheme.
Watch out for celebrities like Neil Morrissey and Victoria Stilwell, as well as clever Collies participating in an obedience competition, and a marvellous variety of Pets as Therapy dogs.
Oh, and there are a few show dogs on the green carpet of course!
Crufts 2008 was a celebration of all things dog, and in this show we bring you interviews with dog owners, organisations and product developers.
Crufts is spread over several halls at the Birmingham NEC, and there's so much more to it than just the show rings - although they are fascinating.
The opportunities to find out about different dog breeds, different tasks dogs can complete and abilities they have, and to see countless dog related products just go on and on.
Julie of DogCast Radio with a huge inflatable of Gromit.
Graeme Sims is a trainer, shepherd, artist and retired vicar who can work up to nine Border Collies simultaneously, each in a different languae - he talks about his new book, The Dog Whisperer.
Crufts 2008 was a great platform for many to get their dog related message out, we talked to Neil Morrissey and Victoria Stilwell among others.
The DogCast Radio News includes a chart hit only dogs can hear, and host Julie considers just why some of us get so attached to one specific breed.