Dancing dog waltzes off with a top prize at Crufts

Tri colour border collie Fawkes took the top spot in Crufts’ freestyle section this week with a ‘heelwork to music’ routine with his owner Dr Caroline Garrett.

Caroline, 36, of Station Approach, Hassocks, has had Fawkes - otherwise known as Wildsea Phoenix of Fire - for the past three years after his previous owner died of cancer.

“He started his training when he was a puppy,” said Caroline.

“He started life with a friend of mine who lost her life to cancer.

“I took him on and carried on with his training.”

And the training has been so successful that last year six-year-old Fawkes took second place in the freestyle category after narrowly missing first.

Now he’s well and truly proved himself top dog by scooping the top title with a ‘dancing’ routine set to the music of Swan Lake.

Caroline, who works at the University of Brighton, was presented with a crystal trophy and rosette and Fawkes himself didn’t miss out - he was presented with a stuffed swan by the sister of his previous owner. “He absolutely loves it,” said Caroline. “He throws it around all over the place.”