Teri terriers are on their way to Crufts

Four Border Terriers have been prepped and primed and are ready for their big entrance to Crufts.
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Owners Kath, Peter and Cheyenne Lothian are no strangers to the world’s largest dog show.

Kath, who lives in Duns, but is originally from Hawick having grown up on Lairehope Farm, near Teviothead, told us: “It’s an honour that all four dogs have qualified. There is no guarantee we will be placed, but it’s just a fantastic day out.”

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All four dogs are award winners, with Chi-Chi (Lairehope Diamant Chienne) having had a successful showing career and will be showing in Veteran class. He is in the Kennel Club Stud Book, so is qualified for Crufts for life.

Jimi (Lairehope Topaz Design), Chi-Chi’s son, and Zak (Lairehope Viking Spark) both qualified at the Scottish Kennel Club Show, Ingliston, in May 2013, while Berri (Lairehope Blueberry Bling) qualified at the Northern Border Terrier Club, in July 2013.

Kath continued: “Jimi is just out of Puppy class (up to 12 months) and has progressed to Junior class at Crufts. Berri is showing in Post-Graduate Bitch class at Crufts, while Zak, who is also Chi-Chi’s son, is showing in Mid-Limit Dog class at Crufts.

“ Peter prepares the dogs and will also be their handler on the day. I mostly exercise them. I try to get them out for at least two miles a day and more towards the show to tighten up muscles.

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“Our daughter Cheyenne is a member of the Young Kennel Club. She has grown up with the breed and is gradually getting in to showing too.

“Our highest accolade has been Lairehope Ruby Romance winning Best Border Terrier Puppy at Crufts in 2009. What a feeling that was! She won her own Puppy Bitch class, then went up against the best male puppy and won overall BestPuppy (out of 40 - 50 puppies) parading around the ring with the Best of Breed at the end of the show.

“Peter has to start eight to ten weeks in advance to prepare the dogs’ coats, but with their hair having a natural cyclical characteristic it is not always easy to have the coats spot-on for one particular show.”

Another of Chi-Chi’s progeny, Mac (Lairehope Black Mac), owned by Kev Aitchison and Claire Bolton, of Duns, is also showing at Crufts this weekend.

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Kath added: “We are so proud of Mac qualifying and showing at Crufts, too. And we are so pleased for the owners who are also going. Peter willbe handling Mac for them.”

Crufts is taking place at Birmingham NEC from today until Sunday. The Terrier day is tomorrow (Friday).

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