Crufts Dog Show takes place this year at the NEC in Birmingham and runs for four days. Naturally enough, organisers The Kennel Club expect all sorts of dogs.

Twenty-two thousand dogs, competing in over five hundred categories, are expected.
But, this year, they'll be seeing Portuguese Water Dogs and Bearded Collies, dogs who are part of the Staffordshire contingent.

Sue with a "finished off" Bramble

She currently owns five Bearded Collies, three of which have won first prizes within their breed at Crufts.
Bearded Collies look a little like "dulux dogs", despite their name.

Holly, Scooby and Bramble are all from the same family, and will be in Birmingham again this year.

Betsy, who acted as a bridesmaid at Sue's wedding (you'll have to listen to the interview to find out how that happened! - picture right, note the pink ribbon in Betsy's fur!) is taking the year off...
But we're sure she sends her grand-puppies off with the best of luck wishes.

Jeff & Phil show off Zola - note the shorn back end

The dogs' fur is still cut short in parts, in the old style, which harks back to the days when they needed to be able to swim in streamlined fashion through the water.

Jeff's dog Zola (right), a multi-award winner already, is aiming for Best Bitch at Crufts after getting the reserve place last year - and, one thing which might help, is that this year the judges will include a representative from Portugal...!