Saintfield’s Scarlett collects accolades at Crufts

Saintfield’s Scarlett collects accolades at Crufts

17 April 2019

THEY say you shouldn’t mix business with pleasure, but that’s not the case for Scarlett Burnside who finds that her passion for showing dogs mixes perfectly with her studies at South Eastern Regional College’s Downpatrick campus.

Scarlett (18) from Saintfield, a Level 3 Travel and Tourism student, recently returned from the world famous Crufts dog show with a clutch of accolades.

She finished second in the Open Dog category with Hansel, while another dog, Fudge, was third in Puppy Dogs and fourth in the Junior Dog categories.

Her Hungarian Vizsla, Logan also came second in the Open Dog category and her Bernese Mountain dog, Dylan, was shortlisted from 20 dogs to the final seven in the Open Dog category

Her Tibetan Mastiff, Nero, came third in the Open Dog category and Chelsea, her English Pointer, was sixth in the Young Kennel Club Junior Handling class. Marley, her Alaskan Malamute, was third in the Young Kennel Club Working Stakes category.

Scarlett said she got involved in show dogs through her mother, Peri.

“She took her first dog to show when she was only seven years old,” Scarlett explained. “I showed my first dog when I was 14, taking part in competitions across Ireland and the UK. 

“From the age of 16, I have been showing dogs abroad and have been to Croatia, Canada, Luxembourg and France.

“The travel to shows sits very nicely with my Travel & Tourism course as I get to see and experience different countries and cultures and see how the whole tourism sector works for shows like Crufts. It is a huge market out there, with people travelling from across the world to take part.”

She continued: “There is a bit of jugging with studies, as there is grooming, well-being and exercise of the dogs every day but mostly it is every weekend that I am involved the shows.

“I love dogs and all animals. It was brilliant to be at Crufts where your dogs are competing with 22,000 other dogs, so any result is tremendous. I hope to show in Austria at the European Dog Show, one of the biggest shows this year.”

When asked what advice she would give anyone wishing to get involved in show dogs, Scarlett said: “You need a lot of time and commitment, but it is very rewarding. You also need to be prepared to take criticism for your beloved show dog.”