A Great Yarmouth dog owner is hoping to cap a rapid rise to the top when she takes her young dog to Crufts - after just six months of showing.
Jennifer Herod, 25, and one-year-old Leonberger, named Cilla, will take part at the NEC Birmingham showpiece next week – despite only performing at a handful of events beforehand.
Ms Herod, who works as an equine centre team member at Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norwich, said that her pet’s inclination for the limelight has changed both of their lives.
“I would say Cilla has definitely changed my life," she said.
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“She’s opened up so many different doors for me and she’s taken me to places that I would never think to go.
“I would never have thought I would be competing at Crufts, so it’s all thanks to her really.
“I’ve made friends and met people that I would never probably have met.
“I’m so grateful for her, really, for opening up this world to me," she said.
Cilla, who could weigh up to 16kg when fully grown, was named after Elvis Presley’s wife Priscilla, and Ms Herod believes the Leonberger has developed some diva-like habits already in her relatively short life.
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She said: “Cilla is definitely a born star – I would definitely say that. She is a little bit of a diva at times.
“If she doesn’t want to do anything, she’ll let me know.
“She’ll just sit down or lie down.
“She is so lovely and quite mischievous. She is a year and two months old now, but she still has that puppy side to her.
“She’s a lot of fun," Ms Herod said.
Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is held from March 7 to 10 at the NEC Birmingham.
Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4, and for further information and tickets visit: http://crufts.org.uk
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