Salisbury dog and owner heading to Crufts

Keesha Brignall, 25, has been fascinated by the world of dog showing from an early age, but her first real venture into the sport came last year.

She will be attending Crufts’ showpiece event in Birmingham, which takes place from Thursday, March 7 to Sunday, March 10, with her one-year-old black and tan coonhound, Ephraim, by her side.

Keesha said: “I was bitten by the bug. It’s been so unbelievably rewarding.

“[Ephraim] has hit that adolescent stage and he’s got that rebellious brain on but, when I do something with him, I can just see that adult personality come out and it makes me realise all the hard work I’ve put in over the last year has been worth it.”

Having spent time in the American South, it was only fitting that Keesha adopted a black and tan, despite the breed being on the import register.

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Keesha said: “It just feels nice to have something that I would consider a piece of my past and my history in with me.

“I’m so thankful my breeder gave me the opportunity to have this dog because Ephraim is amazing.

“The first time I went up to see the litter, I knew that was it.

“He sees me like a sibling, he is on a level with me rather than me telling him to do something and him doing it because I am the authority figure.”

Keesha hailed the importance of Ephraim in teaching her valuable life lessons that she would not have learned with a different type of dog.

She said: “I wanted a breed that could challenge me and make me think a little about the way I was training.

“I like having to think as hard as he does, if that’s not happening then it’s not a mutual relationship.

“Obviously, it would be incredible to get off the import register and for our breed to have its own classes, but even if that doesn’t happen, it’s such a pleasure to show him and be a part of that breed community.

“I do also like to collect the ribbons though; they do look nice on my wall.”