Danny is top dog at Crufts

Danny is top dog at Crufts

Danny has now retired from shows

A three-year Pekinese dog has beaten off thousands of canine competitors to win the top prize at Crufts.

Danny, part-owned and handled by Albert Easdon, from Glasgow, took the Best in Show award at the 100th Crufts event at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday.

The small dog received a big hand from the hundreds of people who had gathered in the main ring at the end of the four-day show.

Mr Easdon, 49, who runs a hotel with Danny's co-owner Philip Martin, 50, said their award-winning pet would now be retiring after competing in dozens of shows since he was a three-month old pup.

Danny has lots of brothers and sisters in kennels, so we will definitely be coming back next year

Co-owner Philip Martin

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"This is a lifetime ambition, you can't do any more. It is the highest accolade in the dog world," Mr Easdon said.

"Danny will be taking a well-earned rest now, he cannot go any higher."

"We have been breeding Pekinese for 30 years and this is the culmination of our breeding with Danny. It is a tremendous honour, we are so pleased," Mr Martin added.

The top dog's owners had won Reserve Best in Show at Crufts on two previous occasions, while Danny had taken nine Best in Show prizes at other events, but never Crufts.

Dangerous Liaisons

Danny, whose show name is Dangerous Liaisons, was also named best dog in the Toy category.

Mr Martin said he and Mr Easdon would be returning to Crufts to try to repeat their triumph.

"Danny has lots of brothers and sisters in kennels, so we will definitely be coming back next year," Mr Martin said.

Even though Crufts has been held since 1891, this year's show was the centenary because events such as the world wars and the foot-and-mouth epidemic have occasionally forced its cancellation.