'It's a dream come true to be a presenter at Crufts'

13 minutes ago

Kate Baldock

News image — Laura Crombie, 40, from Hagley with her Irish setter, Evie

Laura Crombie Laura Crombie sitting in front of a lit up Crufts sign kneeling on the floor with her Irish setter called Evie. She has a green blazer on with long straight brown hair. She is smiling into the camera — Laura Crombie, 40, from Hagley with her Irish setter, Evie

A dog trainer, who is part of the Channel 4 Crufts presenter line up, said getting ready to commentate on her sixth show was "a real passion".

Laura Crombie, 40, from Hagley in Worcestershire has been showing and judging dogs since she was a child.

"If you told me when I was 12 when I came to my first Crufts that one day I'd be working with Clare Balding and Claudia Winkleman, I'd have never believed you," she said.

More than 18,600 canines from across the globe will strut their paws around the halls of Birmingham's NEC from Thursday to Sunday.

Crombie said the journey to her "dream job" of commentating began when she was a child.

"My parents didn't like dogs, we were never allowed one growing up so my sister and I took it upon ourselves to advertise in all the local papers and shops to see if anyone wanted their dogs walked," she explained.

"A lady replied and it turned out she had a kennel of Irish setters which were show dogs and it sort of stemmed from there.

"I then moved into journalism and ended up doing YouTube videos and I basically asked Channel 4 if I could join the team until they said yes," said Crombie.

Laura Crombie Two women at Crufts. The one on the left has blonde hair and is wearing a floral shirt and jeans and is smiling at the camera. The second woman is sat down next to a dog in a booth, wearing a green suit. — Laura with presenter Clare Balding at a previous Crufts show

The presenter said Crufts had diversified over the years and that the organisers, The Kennel Club, recognised it wanted to champion all dogs.

"There's a lot more focus on the flyball, the agility, the obedience, things like the Hero Dog Awards and Scrufts to try and make it a celebration of all dogs.

"As well as still honouring the fact that this is a competition for pedigree dogs and Best in Show is the ultimate accolade in the whole dog world," she said.

What does it take to get a winning show dog at Crufts?

Crombie said picking a winning show dog starts from the moment it is born.

"You have to have the eye and pick up on which dog has got the best characteristics, but also which one has got the personality," she said.

For a top level show like Crufts, "your confirmation of movement will get you so far, but it is that extra level, that 'je ne sais quoi', that is what makes a best in show winner.

"You need to make sure your dog is well groomed and in good muscular condition, and most importantly, we want our dogs to be happy and healthy," she added.

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