SCHOOLGIRL Mea Jarvis proved every dog has its day - when her pedigree pooch Rene trotted away with a top prize at Crufts.
Rene, a three-year-old Löwchen or ‘Little Lion’ dog claimed the prestigious Best of Breed award at the NEC in Birmingham.
And 14-year-old Mea, who attends Ecclesfield Comprehensive School, was left beaming with pride at her and Rene’s performance at the world-famous Kennel Club event.
“I am elated to win, it was a big surprise,” she said.
“I love dogs and there have been so many here to see, it’s been great.
“My grandfather is a trainer for a kennel club so I go there quite a lot. I have been to Crufts before, but I have never won or picked up best in breed.
“It’s my first time here in this category so it’s exciting.
“I had to get special permission from school to be able to come down here and I’m glad I did!
“Crufts is really exciting and I like seeing all the dogs and the different things going on.”
Little Lion dogs were once the rarest breed in the world, and still have fewer than a few hundred new registrations each year worldwide.
The breed can be traced back to 1442 and is found in many old paintings, drawings and literature dating back to the 16th century.
Modern sources of the breed are from Belgium, France and Germany in the late 19th century.
The dog’s long, wavy coat is presented in a lion cut - which means the back legs and haunches are shaved to give a lion-like appearance.
Rene was one of more than 25,000 dogs on show at Crufts.
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