It may have been overshadowed by the much-loved Lambeth Country Show happening just one week later, but for those of us canine-fanciers who went to the Brockwell Park Dog Show (tagline “Scruffs not Crufts”), this earlier event was every bit as special.
With categories including Handsomest Dog, Prettiest Bitch, Cutest Puppy, Golden Oldie and Dog’s Got Talent, the Brockwell Park Dog Show is a daft, cockle-warming and inclusive affair.
And if your hound doesn’t qualify for any of the main events, there’s always the fancy dress competition – this year the ruffles (sorry) were out for the Tudor-inspired Woof Hall theme. And in a brilliant coup, the judges included Wolf Hall acting superstar Mark Rylance, with prizes provided by Brockwell and Norwood vets.
Dog’s Got Talent is the real crowd pleaser of the show, and we watched Gustavito, a bouncy Tibetan Terrier, perform daring acrobatics, while Esther, the child owner of a black Lab, did her own acrobatics as her pooch looked placidly on.
Meanwhile, Tilly the Working Cocker cleverly balanced things on her nose, and Monty jumped through some impressively small hoops. Several other entrants appeared to be more interested in the leftover dog treats scattered across the show ring floor. But in the Brockwell Park Dog Show, it’s more about the taking bark. ‘Arf.