Rare dog Herryt wins Best in Show

The two-year-old pet is so unusual he is not allowed to compete in Crufts – the biggest dog show in the UK – as his breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club.

But that has not stopped him and owner Jo Blackwell from walking away with a number of top titles.

Jo and Herryt, from Gosport, have just returned from Holland after taking part in the biggest show for stabyhouns where hundreds of dogs competed.

Herryt won three titles including Best in Show.

Jo, 62, said: ‘The show was amazing. He just won everything which was incredible as we have never done anything like this before.

‘I’m still on cloud nine. I can’t believe how well we did.

‘I keep looking at Herryt and thinking it’s amazing.

‘He took it all in his stride.’

Although Jo has never shown a dog in competitions, she has worked with horses and judged horse and carriage contests. And she takes part in dog training classes, with her other dog Radar appearing in adverts.

Jo added: ‘I was very nervous just before it was our turn.

‘I was worried I’d let him down. I’ve done lots of work with horses but never taken my dogs to be shown.’

In the competition, held in Zutphen, Herryt won his open class against 40 other male dogs, best male dog against 200 other entries and finally best in show.

Jo said: ‘The show is the biggest one for the stabyoun breed.

‘It is the place for him to win so it is amazing that he won his class, let along best in show too.’

Jo adopted Herryt when he was eight months old after he was brought to the UK for another woman.

Jo added: ‘It was almost by accident that I got Herryt.

‘Just before Christmas a new puppy joined our training groups and it was lovely so I asked about the breed.

‘It turned out that there was a puppy looking to be adopted. He had been imported to the UK by a lady but because of her health she couldn’t look after him.

‘So after many meetings I adopted him.’

With his success in the show, Herryt will now be used for breeding.