AN award winning dalmatian dog show duo has brought pride and joy to a Cheshire family.
Cruft champion Ace won Best Yearling in Breed at this year’s show whilst his other half, Dot, had to stay at home this time to look after their 13 pups!
Their large litter took owner Rebecca Tavill by surprise.
“Dot is only tiny, half the size of Ace,” said Rebecca, of Holmes Chapel.
“Where she put 13, I will never know!
“My mum had scanned her and said she could see at least six.
“When she got up to 10, we got too excited to sit there and count them!”
Looking after the big brood has been a round-the-clock labour of love.
“I didn’t sleep for four weeks,” said Rebecca, 30.
“Dot only had 10 teats so I put the smaller ones on first and the bigger ones second.
“She did an absolutely incredible job, amazing, it was mammoth work.
“She has eight boys and five girls.”
The pups were given different coloured collars to tell them apart and christened with nicknames.
Now at eight weeks old, they are moving on to new homes.
“We’re keeping one of them,” said Rebecca.
“I couldn’t bring them into the world and not keep at least one, a little boy with a great big heart shaped dot on his eye.
“We’ve named him Obi which means heart.
“He looks like a little superstar at the moment. We’re hoping he follows his parents.”
Ace comes from a line of winning dalmatians and won Best Puppy in Breed when he made his debut at Cruft’s last year.
Dot also comes from award winning stock and has been named Best Puppy in Breed at the Royal Cheshire County Show.
“We are very very lucky,” said Rebecca, who works as a part-time dog groomer and dog walker.
“Ace is only 20 months old but he was an absolute angel at Crufts.
“His breeders from Belgium absolutely love him and think this is going to be his year.
“Judges can’t take their eyes off him. He’s always the one bouncing around but as soon as the judge comes over he knows he needs to behave.
“He is a proper show off.
“Dot has done amazing in shows and has her studbook number qualifying her for life at Crufts.
Competing against the world’s top dogs is in Rebecca’s blood.
Her nan showed Yorkshire Terriers and her mum specialised in Chihuahuas before moving on to Newfoundlands.
“I just absolutely love going somewhere where everyone is just as nuts as we are,” said Rebecca.
“I’ve wanted a Dalmatian since I was six but my mum would never let me have one until I moved out.
“Along came Dot and I just love them.
“The best thing I’ve ever heard them called is velcro dogs because they literally stick to you, they become your best friend.”
Rebecca’s daughter Isabella is now keen to follow her mum into the ring.
“She will be able do to it from October when she is six,” said Rebecca.
“She has way more confidence that I ever had.
“A woman who does the hearing test on our dalmatians and has 40 years of experience said Isabella already has an amazing ability.”
It’s a family affair as Rebecca travels to shows all over the country with her daughter and 20-month-old son Thomas.
“I don’t drive so my husband, Ben, takes me everywhere,” said Rebecca.
“He’s an absolute rock, a gem.
“He is amazing.
“A dalmatian hasn’t won the group prize at Crufts since 1968.
“It would be great to get best in show.
“It’s everyone’s dream to win that trophy.”
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