Dachshund's Crufts dash 'unbelievable', says owner

A novice dog owner will be competing at Crufts after an "unbelievable" journey to the prestigious dog show.

Debbie Kent and her dachshund Bella, from Torrington, Devon, qualified for the show unexpectedly after she took her dog to some obedience shows in Exeter without any previous knowledge of show experience, or considering what the outcome might be.

Bella is Debbie's first dog, who she got as a puppy, and Bella quickly showed her potential to learn.

Kent said: "She's very bright and trainable despite the myths about dachshunds being difficult... This whole Crufts adventure has been a surprise as I knew nothing about training a dog and have no experience of the canine world."

Bella had some early puppy obedience training with Rachel Hamilton-Howard and she described Bella as "the dog of a lifetime".

Kent said she wanted Bella to get further used to other similar small breed dogs, and so decided to attend a dog show in Exeter.

She said: "We went to these shows not thinking for one minute we'd be placed but we were.

Someone then approached Debbie and said: "You do know you've qualified for Crufts?"

Kent said she then turned to her mother and simply said: "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."

More than 18,600 canines are expected to strut their paws around the halls of Birmingham's NEC from Thursday 5 March until Sunday 8 March, with owners hoping to win the ultimate title of Best in Show.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.