EVEN show dogs get mucky: they just have a more of a high maintenance grooming routine than others, according to Diana Harrington, a Kinsale dog groomer whose two-year-old poodle Yara has been selected for Crufts.

Yara took first prize at a Crufts qualifier at the end of September, which means Diana will be showing her on ‘poodle day’ at the National Exhibit Centre in Birmingham on March 7th of next year.

Last year, it was estimated that 24,000 dogs were selected for the event, but as every breeder knows Crufts only presents the best of the best in every category.

The four-day show from March 5th to 8th will be watched by millions of people around the world, but Diana said neither she nor Yara will be one bit nervous.

She says exhibiting is a dog lover’s dream​, but the dogs enjoy it too. ‘Yara loves it,’ said Diana. ‘I have to contain her excitement at a show.

‘She was the top female of the litter and is very like her mother, Zaya, who also loves showing. She does little dances before we go into the ring because she is so excited.’

From the age of four weeks, or younger, show poodles are introduced to the various processes required for shows. ​ ‘It all happens from a very early age, such as Yara being taught to stand perfectly,’ she said.

Conscious that some people might find that off-putting, Diana explained that she is talking about five-minute training sessions that are all about fun.

On the other hand, the simple act of bathing and drying the dog, and clipping its nails, can take an hour or more, but any dog owner could claim that depending on the cooperation level of their pets.

The 23-year-old owner of Diana’s Dog Grooming Salon, which is adjacent to her family home at Compass Hill in Kinsale, certainly knows how to care for Yara.

‘I always wanted a show poodle: my four-year-old male poodle Rua was meant to be one, but when I started showing him I realised that he was the wrong size, and that his mussel was too short.’

Still hopelessly devoted to Rua, Diana confesses: ‘He is the epitome of a teddy bear. His favourite thing is to sleep. His least favourite thing is to walk. He is that laziest​, but loveliest, thing and Diana’s showing experience with Rua led her to go and work with a breeder in Germany.

It was there that she fell in love with Yara and spent days convincing her parents, Denis and Breda, to allow her to bring the young poodle home and she was overjoyed when they said yes.

‘Initially, I went to Germany for a week, but I had to go back the following month to collect Yara. My dad drove me all the way from Ireland to Fussen in Germany,’ said Diana, who appreciates the support she receives from both of her parents, but describes her father as being ‘one in a million’ for the patience he exhibits in driving her everywhere.

‘No dad does what he does: he will drive with me to the UK for shows and he enjoys the process of me being happy showing Yara,’ she added.

Winning or losing at shows is not the issue, according to Diana. She said: ‘Crufts will be a good training experience and then in June we are off to a world dog show in Bologna in Italy.’

At the end of the interview, a clearly besotted Diana asked if she could clarify for readers that show dogs are like any other dogs.

‘They do get dirty and messy. They are dogs and, at the end of the day, are very much themselves.

‘Yara runs around, gets mucky and dirty, and comes back with bits of sticks in her coat, of course she does. She just has a more high maintenance grooming routine than others.’