The Full Circle Moment: Fiona Galston

As a child I was absolutely obsessed with dogs, so Crufts on TV has been part of my annual calendar for as long as I remember, living in Newcastle it was a long way for a visit so it wasn’t until 2017 that I stepped through the doors of the NEC. I had my first black lab Jasper at the time and was recommended by friends to take time to watch the Gundog display, and it was incredible to see these dogs displaying the qualities needed for the job they’re bred to do.

Crufts has seen me from first dog, dying dog, new puppy and more, and every year I returned to watch the gundog display, dragging my friends along, sometimes more than once (Yes I know, I sound like a stalker). It was awesome seeing the display dogs improve and change over the years. I dabbled a bit in pet gundog training over those years, but losing my first lab followed by an unenthusiastic second dog, the gundog world wasn’t to be for us.

Then things changed in 2021, when my wife and friend worked together to persuade me to take the toy-obsessed boy from her litter of working x show line Labradors. I had no real plans to train Jeff for any particular job, but around 18months old he charged head-first through a bush after a tennis ball, and I thought maybe he’d be up for using that instinct.

I spent some time looking for trainers that suited my needs online and found it really difficult, as a KC Good Citizen trainer, positive training is important to me. Jeff is a pet, most of his life is at home on the sofa, fetching balls and swimming in the sea, so when I saw trainers stating rules must be followed and dogs should be treated certain ways, it really didn’t fit our lifestyle.

Then came Crufts 2023, once again I sat myself down in a good corner spot and kept my sandwiches in my bag, well away from the approaching dogs. Lenny “Long Legs” caught my eye, reminding me of my Jasper. I watched Claudia lead with positivity, treats and praise, and a Northern accent. Afterwards I chatted to a couple of the team members, who I now know to be Vic and Emily, about dogs, training styles, 1-1s and their location and left with the belief that the right trainer and people are completely worth a 2 hour drive. We started in 1-1s with Claudia the next month!

Over the next year; Jeff and I were regular visitors to Claudia’s group sessions alongside our 1-1s. He started learning to retrieve over field, woodland and water, incorporating brakes & steering. All through positivity, humour and a lot of coffee and cake breaks.

Once again I visited Crufts to watch the team in 2024, this time to support those I’d trained alongside (aware I’m really not helping the stalker thing here).

We upped our training over the year, building more confidence and working around distractions, including joining some longer workshop sessions or multiple classes/days in a row.

Then late 2024 I was at Kings Cross Station travelling for an event when Claudia’s name appeared on my phone. She was calling me to invite Jeff and I to be part of the 2025 Crufts Display team. I think my initial response was entirely in shock, so I later messaged to apologise, thank her and proudly accept.

We practised with the team in the run up to Crufts and spent a lot of time focussing on Jeff’s heelwork and presentation to hand, so that I was prepared to be the kind of person I’d spent so many years admiring.

March 2025 I set foot on the Activities Ring Green Carpet for the first time with my boy. I was so incredibly proud, and a little dizzy from the bright green everywhere. I remembered what my good friend had told me about dog showing - get their focus, lock on and then its just you and him out there. Watching him sit steady during our initial display while I threw dummies, danced strangely and accidentally dropped my entire treat pouch was incredible. He coped so well to the new environment, sights, sounds and smells, although he took a while to handle Claudia’s voice coming from all the speakers around the ring.

Our final day that year included a bolting rabbit, Jeff had never seen one and was right beside it when it went off! He was strong and stable, the same can’t be said for my eyes as I welled up with pride in my boy and his training.

2025 was also our first shooting season; training with Claudia has taken us both to green carpets and waist-deep brambles, hunting and flushing game for our guns then Jeff learning to retrieve the game himself. The end of the season marked the return of Crufts and our second year with the display team. As a larger dog he can be quite slow in the small ring, he’s dependable, happy, eager to please and meet the public, and he worked fabulously for new handlers during our have-a-go sessions. I couldn’t be prouder of my boy as we approach working test season.

The full circle moment truly hit when I noticed people sat around the ring taking photos of my dog in the display as I had done to others many times over the years. In fact I still have photos from that very first display I saw in 2017…and there’s Claudia.