THIS WEEK IN 1976: Portchester dogs are four time hit at Crufts

In fact, Mrs Sargent put her five best chins forward, for she and her mother bred Japanese Chins.

And four of them had qualified for the show the following year.

Mrs Sargent’s dogs walked off with three class ones, a third and a challenge certificate for the best reserve dog.

After 20 years of showing dogs, including seven years at Crufts, that was her biggest success.

‘It’s quite hard to qualify now for they are cutting down to mostly first prize winners.

‘Out of 64 dogs in our breed, only 15 qualified,’ she said.

Each of her dogs was worth about £400.