Becky Williams Level 2 Animal Care student.
Level 2 Animal Care students from Walford `and North Shropshire College were given the opportunity to help prepare some of the winning dogs at Crufts recently. Amongst the animals they bathed and groomed were Jack, a Sussex Spaniel who went on to win 5th place in Open Dog; the top class for males and Travis, a Curly Coated Retriever, who won Veteran Dog; a class for dogs over 7 years old.
Lyn Hunter in the ring with Travis. Left to right; students Billy Messenger, Emma Williams, Lizzie Saum, Beth Atkinson, Becky Williams, Sam Royce.
“This was a really good experience for them.” commented prize winning breeder, exhibitor and College Lecturer Lyn Hunter. “They were given the opportunity to prepare a dog for competition, see the dog in competition in the ring amongst others of the breed and see them going on to win prizes. As well as personalising the whole experience this helped them to appreciate the wording of the breed standard and how this relates to the job the breed was bred for. The use of different grooming techniques also gave the students experience which will be valuable in their future careers.”
Left to right; students Sam Royce, Lizzie Saum, Beth Atkinson and Jordan Hunt with Jack.
Lyn, who has been exhibiting at Cruft’s for around 25 years and who will be lecturing on the Animal Care course in Shipley from September 2012, was showing six of her own dogs; four Curly coated Retrievers and two Sussex Spaniels. Travis was also sire to the winner of the Best Bitch category for the third year running. Other Springcurl winners included; Best Puppy, Reserve Best Bitch, 1st in Post Graduate Bitch and 2nd in Limit Dog, all dogs that had been bred by Lyn.
Lyn & Travis with students watching from front row.
Lyn Hunter in the ring with Travis. Left to right; students Billy Messenger, Emma Williams, Lizzie Saum, Beth Atkinson, Becky Williams, Sam Royce.
The students really enjoyed the experience “It helped us understand how different varieties of dogs can enhance a person’s quality of life” commented Beth Atkinson, aged 16 from Shrewsbury “and how the dogs can be trained to do a variety of different things.” added Lizzie Saum, aged 17 also from Shrewsbury.
For more information about Animal Care courses at Walford and North Shropshire College please visit our website at www.wnsc.ac.uk or telephone 01939 262100 or 01902 709840.
