Australian Shepherd Viking clinches coveted Best in Show crown! | Crufts 2024

Solihull local hero and dog-showing star Melanie Raymond admitted the nerves ‘melted away’ when she stepped onto the green carpet to grab Best in Show Crufts glory with Australian Shepherd Viking.
The 46-year-old, who lives less than five miles away from the NEC in Birmingham, trumped more than 18,000 showing dogs who competed across four spectacular days in the Midlands.
Three-year-old Viking was awarded the dog show’s top honour by judge Ann Ingram after trumping every canine in the Pastoral Group on Saturday.
Pressure was mounting on pre-event favourite, co-owned by Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley but the winning handler insisted he kept his cool to come out on top. Subscribe to Crufts: bit.ly/CruftsSub
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[@merveilleuxfides7907]

Congratulations to all handles, owners and especially, breeders who has devoted and given their compassion to each of breeds👏👏

[@beanmachine917]

Viking is such a stunning example of a breed standard Aussie, he’s got such wonderful temperament and really seems to love strutting his stuff!!! Great job to Melanie and Viking this year ❤️❤️❤️ can’t wait for Crufts 2025!!!

[@user-so1mz4fx8e]

I have 2 Australian Shepards and they are both the greatest. Great temperament, loving and loyal.

[@janislohman8125]

Congratulations Aussie!

[@elsag4870]

Wait, did she just say she was "pregnant with a beagle"? 😂

[@cmspilates]

That made me chuckle too 😂

[@pattymelt-go3fv]

I've had two beagle bitches. From my experience, it's entirely possible, they were both big humpers, especially around dinner time. My trainers were pregnant more than once! I would buy a size 6 and before I knew it they were a size 10. Beagles need every ounce of exercise they can get, as they are prone to weight gain. But in all seriousness....beagles are my favorite. I grew up with them..they have a great sense of humor. And you'll never go hungry with a beagle around. Beagles will sniff out a tic-tac in a football stadium!

[@DiRTemma]

You won it 15 years ago when you were pregnant with a beagle 😄