Dog breeder flying the flag for Guernsey at Crufts

A Guernsey dog breeder whose animals secured places at Crufts said it was really good to represent the island at the competition.

Lynn Symphorien and her daughter Aimee's dogs placed in categories including mini puppy and puppy bitch at the competition between 5 and 8 March.

Symphorien has taken dogs to compete at the prestigious show for more than 12 years and has won a multitude of awards including best of breed for one of her pugs.

She said people in the UK were now recognising the quality of the dogs produced in Guernsey and their ability to compete in competitions.

The mother and daughter team's English Pointer, Rumer and Pug, Macy, secured a first place, two second places and a fourth place at the 2026 competition.

Symphorien said who taking her dogs to compete was enjoyable as she "literally just loves animals".

"It was just lovely to compete and also for her to actually be placed in tough competition, there were 228 pointers entered so even to come away with a ticket is great," she said.

She said a lot of work went in to preparing the animals for the competition.

"The Guernsey Kennal Club, we do ring craft every Sunday at the Vale Douzaine and we're prepping and exercising the dogs to get them fit, the food and just practising really what we need to do in the ring.

"They know once they've got a show lead on what they've got to do."

Symphorien said there was a community of people at Crufts from across the world so it was "really good" to be able to represent Guernsey.

"A lot of people in the UK recognise Guernsey now and the dogs that we have can compete in the in the UK."

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