Cocker spaniel is Britain's top dog

Miami, an American cocker spaniel, has won the top prize at Britain's Crufts dog show in Birmingham. The black, white and brown gun dog, whose full name is Afterglow Miami Ink, was crowned Best In Show on Sunday after four days of competing with near
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Miami, an American cocker spaniel, has won the top prize at Britain's Crufts dog show in Birmingham. The black, white and brown gun dog, whose full name is Afterglow Miami Ink, was crowned Best In Show on Sunday after four days of competing with nearly 22,000 other dogs from 56 countries. "He's pretty special... I'm absolutely shocked and thrilled," handler Jason Lynn said after Miami won the top honour at the 126-year-old show, billed as the world's largest. A miniature poodle, Frankie, came in second in the final. Crufts' organiser, Britain's Kennel Club, is worried that a trend towards small, so-called designer dogs is threatening some famous British breeds with extinction. Its register of puppies born last year contains only 28 skye terriers, 53 bloodhounds, 84 king charles spaniels and 102 mastiffs.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 14, 2017, with the headline Cocker spaniel is Britain's top dog. Subscribe