Wendy & Caesars' Visit to Crufts 2004
Our preparations for Crufts started early this year, on 1st February, when we attended selection for The Good Citizen Award Scheme Gold Display Team at Winchester City Dog Club. We then attended training sessions every Sunday until the end of February, clocking up around 400 miles of train and car journies!
We spent Thursday (the first day of Crufts) helping at the Dogs for the Disabled stand, looking around the show, and doing some all important doggie shopping!
Caesar ready for work, leaving the hotel
One of our favourite stands
Caesar shops, Wendy pays!
We had a very early start on Friday, as we had to check in with the rest of the display team at 8am, in order that we could have one last run through our routine before the show opened to the public.
All the dogs in the display team had a bench,
and although Caesar only used his to have his photo taken,
this picture shows his disdain!
Just enough time for a team photo, and we were ready!
The Kennel Clubs' Good Citizen Dog Scheme
Gold Award Display Team
Crufts 2004
As a team we presented three demonstrations throughout the day on Friday, and towards the end of the day we all took part, together with the Bronze and Silver level display teams in a Down / Stay in the Kennel Clubs' Good Citizen Ring. The Gold display comprised of many of the various elements that are required for the Gold Award. Our routine was set to music, the Thunderbirds theme, and the displays lasted 20-25 minutes.
Wendy & Caesar in the ring, after the Down/Stay
On the Saturday, Wendy & Caesar were interviewed by the BBC and Caesar demonstrated some of his assistance tasks for the camera crew. Each task was filmed from this angle, and that angle, and on Saturday evening the tv audience saw some brief shots of Caesar emptying a washing machine and picking up a credit card and handing it to Wendy.
Wendy & Caesar being interviewed by Richard Hammond from BBC tv
On the Sunday the Gold Team did three more displays and a Down/Stay in the ring at the end of the day. We were all presented with certificates and rosettes by the Kennel Club.
After the presentations
Wendy & Caesar with Rosemary Smart, Chief Executive of The Kennel Club
& BBC tv presenter Richard Hammond
Wendy & Caesar with their Good Citizen Dog Scheme Gold Award
Although the show made for four very long days, Caesar enjoyed his time off at the hotel, playing in the garden with fellow Dogs for the Disabled, Venny & Penny.
Time to relax in the hotel garden
Venny & Penny (Caesars' half sister) tired at the end of a long day
The Kennel Clubs' Good Citizen Dog Scheme, was launched in 1992, and since then some 52,000 dogs have taken part in the scheme.
Wendy & Caesar enjoyed taking part in the scheme, and are delighted to be the first Dogs for the Disabled partnership to complete the Gold Award.
Find out more about Good Citizen Dog Scheme
Our Crufts story was covered in The Daily Echo on 8th April 2004
"Thunderbirds!"
Many thanks to Dogs for the Disabled & Tracey for some of the photos on this page
Copyright©2000~2004
k9assistance / WAMMorrell
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