'My soul mate Crufts dog changed my mental health'

An owner preparing for Crufts said her "special" and "affectionate" Icelandic Sheepdog had transformed her mental health.

Jessica Huntley, 31, from Leominster, Herefordshire, explained she suffered from PTSD, anxiety and depression as a result of childhood trauma.

"It's thanks to Nora that actually I got out into the world a lot more," she said. "She'll be there on the softa for a cuddle if you want one. If you're feeling sad and you just need a cry, then she's there licking your tears away."

Nora is one of the first of her breed to compete at the world's biggest dog show, which opens at the NEC on Thursday.

Huntley described her as "a very special dog". "Nora doesn't just end in the show world," she said.

"She is going to be trained up to be a psychiatric assistant dog.

"I had a very traumatic childhood, and that led to me not putting too much faith in people. And I found that dogs are just so unconditionally loving, they don't judge you. They just love you no matter what."

She said Nora helped break the ice in social situations, as people were curious about the breed, rather than her owner.

"It makes it easier to talk to people," she added. "She's had the biggest impact on my life."

Huntley said Nora was her "soul mate", laughing: "I have a husband so don't tell him that."

The owner, who has 13 dogs in total, said she was excited to return to Crufts and optimistic for Nora's chances: "Everyone thinks she's very promising."

She explained Nora was often mistaken for a collie, but was actually a spitz type, originally bred to protect sheep from eagles.

"The Kennel Club decided last year that it was going to recognise the breed, so Nora came over in March," she said.

Nora started showing in July, and has already been placed a number times and picked up several certificates.

Huntley also has a German spitz klein and a German spitz mittel that will be returning to Crufts this year.

Despite finding the competition nerve-racking, she said: "The great thing is you're always talking about dogs, I could talk forever about dogs."

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