Proud pooch owner Sue Jones from Cardigan will once again compete at Crufts – the world’s largest dog show held at the NEC, Birmingham next March.

This will be her 16th time competing at the prestigious event and Sue knows only too well of the work involved.

‘It’s a full time job,’ said Sue whose husband purchased Ruben, the buff coloured American Cocker Spaniel to celebrate her Ruby wedding anniversary around nine months ago.

‘I did show English Cocker Spaniels for many years but people in the American Cocker Spaniel breed seem to help you more and I decided to show American Cockers instead. They are a lot of work but it’s very rewarding,’ added Sue who shows the dogs across the UK and Southern Ireland.

‘The coat must be kept straight and the back presented to breed standard. It’s a lot of work and people need to think twice before purchasing any dog. I’m constantly grooming and a lot of work goes into keeping the coat as it is,’ said Sue who has been competing to try and gain the Junior Warrant and Show Certificate of Merit before Ruben reaches 18 months old.

And even though Sue has qualified for Crufts for over a quarter of a century and says it’s the pinnacle of the showing season, she says it’s getting tougher every year.