I love building a bond, says 17-year-old champion dog handler

While many dog owners have a close bond with their pets, not many could hope to conquer Crufts to be named among the best dog handlers in the world - and at the tender age of 17.

Megan Slack from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, has done just that, winning International Junior Handler at this year's Royal Kennel Club show.

The club confirmed it was the "first time UK has won this competition since 1995".

The teenager, who has been a fan of Crufts since she was eight, said winning the title last month was "unbelievable".

Megan, who is studying animal management at college, is now preparing to represent Britain at the World Dog Show in Italy in June.

She grew up surrounded by dogs and both her mother and grandmother were involved in dog handling.

"I just love dogs so much - they're always such fun, so playful and they really just pick you up when you've had a bad day," Megan said.

So, why take that love into the show arena?

"I really love building a bond and a rapport with all the dogs I handle."

She said she had been watching junior handling competitions online for years "but I never thought I'd be there - it's amazing".

The Crufts final involved handling a dog the participant has met just an hour or so before taking to the arena.

Megan chose Japanese shiba inu Delphine and the pair romped to victory.

"I woke up the next morning expecting it to be a dream," she said.

"When the judge came over to me I was in complete shock - it really was a dream come true."

In Italy she will be up against competitors from across the globe but said she was "so excited - it'll be my first time showing in a different country".

Megan's mum, Sarah Slack, got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, and said: "Meg has a profound stammer but has never let that hold her back.

"Dogs are absolutely amazing, they don't care how you sound and never judge you, they've given Meg confidence and certainly helped her cope with school and exams."

Megan agreed, adding: "With dog showing obviously I have to speak to the judges and the owners, so dog shows have really helped me build my confidence around my stammer.

"Dogs don't judge you with a stammer - I've made so many friends in dog showing... And honestly, dogs have really boosted my confidence.

"So dogs, like, you talk to them, like when I stammer to them, they obviously don't care and they still do what I ask."

When asked if she saw a future in the dog showing arena, Megan said: "Definitely - dog showing will be a part of my future - I love it too much.

"I've now aged out of the junior handling but the next thing I'll go on to do is adult handling so I'll be competing at Bath this year in the adult handling finals, but the next thing to do is go on to breeding and showing dogs in the breed rings."

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