There was great celebration in the Irish Dog World this week when radio presenter Valerie Hughes's homebred Bernese mountain dog, Irish and International Champion Carraigbern Miss Alice took the top award at the Manchester Championship Dog Show.
Miss Alice won the Challenge Certificate and went on to take Best of Breed from an entry of 88 Bernese at the Manchester Championship Dog Show 2009.
Valerie, who presents the popular Saturday morning request show on Galway Bay FM, has four Bernese Mountain Dogs and says that dog showing is a great pastime and gives her a good opportunity to meet people from all walks of life with similar interests.
“Although Alice has done extremely well in this country becoming an Irish and International Champion in a relatively short period of time, the competition is extremely stiff in the UK and it is much more difficult to make up a GB Champion,” said a proud Valerie.
”Alice has now got two Challenge Certificates and requires just one more to achieve that title. Our next show is Crufts on March 8 and to get the Challenge Certificate there would certainly be the icing on the cake!!'
Valerie also runs a home boarding scheme from her house where she will look after your dog in the house while you are away on holidays. “So many people love their dogs and are loathe to put them in kennels when they go away, so I will take them into my house and treat them like my own !!”
In the meantime Miss Alice has settled back into life at home until her next moment in the show ring at Crufts.
