Eukanuba Discover Dogs in on this weekend at The Excel Centre. I took the Jubilee Line down to North Greenwich and a thrilling ride across the Thames on the Emirates Air Line cable car – being one of the last passengers before they shut it down due to those high winds.
Anyway, this is my third visit to the Kennel Club show where you can meet over 200 breeds of dogs. Naturally, I visited the Chihuahua (Long Haired) stand – as my Alfie is one. I also visited the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) stand as I am considering a small companion for him.
I also went to meet one of the Kennel Clubs newly recognised breeds – the Russian Toy. Very cute. I didn’t have time to check out the White Swiss Shepherd Dog though. I visited the Border Collies as I have had three of these in the past and it was good to see that so many of them were in search and rescue services. There was much admiration for the enormous but perfectly well-behaved Pyrenean Mountain Dogs and I was impressed with the Finnish Lapphund – not a breed that I had seen before and which resembles a husky.
There are also lots of stands for dog charities and selling doggy goods – from beds and blankets, through coats and collars and many varieties of natural foods.
There were a couple of large show rings with everything from Good Citizenship, Young Kennel Club Golden Oldies and Scruffs Prettiest Bitch, Bull Terrier Display teams, obedience and trick training (including the tunnel of temptation) and even dog dancing.
The Metropolitan Police Dog Display Team – including dogs who worked at Grenfell Tower – were out in force. And at their stand they had a “Pet a Puppy Stressbuster Clinic” although when I arrived most of the puppies were taking a well-earned nap.
I also chatted with the folk at the Fabulous Finn stand. Finn is the winner of the Animal Hero of the Year Award 2017 and a Police dog that sustained multiple stab wounds during the course of duty. They are lobbying the Government to introduce legislation that ensures criminal penalties for those harming animals in the line of duty (Further details at @DaveWardell (Twitter) and @FinnsLawOfficial (Facebook)). There was also information about @pensions4paws which supports retired Police Dogs in Hampshire and the Thames Valley.
It was good to see so many people there although at times it was very crowded - especially around the Pugs and Bulldog and other popular breed stands. Some of the small people took refuge in the Kids Zone where they could write on a giant chalk board or tackle colouring and craft activities.
Entrance tickets are £15.40 for adults in advance and £14 for concessions.
http://www.discoverdogs.org.uk/
