EIGHT Monmouthshire dogs and their owners will be embarking on the biggest event of the year this week.

Crufts is being held at the NEC in Birmingham from Thursday, March 5, to Sunday, March 8, and owners of the county’s entrants have spoken of their excitement and nerves ahead of the big event.

Nikki Beer, from Llanfoist, will be showing her three Mini Dachshunds; Frankie, Rita and Honey.

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Nikki Beer's Mini Dachshunds

“This is the first time we’ve shown and we are all a little nervous,” said Mrs Beer.

“We’ve had dogs all our lives, but when we both came out of the forces in 2018, we wanted to complete our dream.

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Nikki Beer's Mini Dachshunds

“We’ve both had busy jobs that have meant we haven’t always been at home as a family, so it’s something for us to celebrate all being back together again.

“It’s a proud time and we’re all really excited.”

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Mrs Beer was concerned not all the dogs would make it to the competition, but is delighted they’ll all be together.

“Frankie, who is the youngest, was only passed for showing in December, which was a relief," she said.

“It’s great that we’ll all be going as a family. It’s like we’re all coming back to thing we love the most.”

Also attending the show is Sian Baynton, from Abergavenny, who will be showing her Entlebucher, Alfie, who is anything but a novice when it comes to Crufts.

“Alfie won Best of Breed in 2018, which was a fantastic achievement and something we’d love to do again,” said Ms Baynton.

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Sian Baynton with Alfie at Crufts.

“But it’s also about the community aspect of the competition. Entlebuchers are a bit of a rare breed and are more prominent in other countries, so it’s nice to see all the dogs when we go to Crufts.

“Alfie will get to see his mother and his uncle, who are both at the competition this year as well.”

Sally Parr, also from Abergavenny, will be taking four of her Tollers, a rare breed of Canadian Retrievers. They are Cooper, Harry, Tiddler and Fudge.

“It’s like a drug,” she said. “Once you start showing dogs it’s something that is in you. Whether it’s the buzz of winning or the pain of defeat, I always feel like we need to do another one, perhaps so we can prove ourselves again.”

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Sally Parr's furry family

Ms Parr, who began showing in the mid-eighties, says she rarely gets nervous anymore, and is looking forward to another show, after collecting “dozens of rosettes” down the years.

“I used to get nervous like you wouldn’t believe, but now people often say I calm them down.

“I’m disabled now so I don’t show them myself, but I’m very lucky because I have a lot of people who are more than happy to help me.

“And why wouldn’t they? It’s such a privilege to show at Crufts.”