PAMPERED pooches getting their hair brushed for hours, being trained to let owners through doors before them and competing in special sports for dogs: to many of us, the British institution that is Crufts is a very weird world.

But if it is strange one, it is a world that is in the house next-door or just down the street: this year more than 80 dog owners from Oxfordshire won places at the world's most famous canine show.

Reporters Pete Hughes and Naomi Herring stocked up on dog treats and caught up with just a few of them.

BEVERLEY Sutton actually owns eight smoothcoat Chihuahuas, but she only took three of them to Crufts this year. Well, you wouldn't want to overdo it.

Mrs Sutton, who lives in Wantage with husband Michael and their eight tiny Mexican mutts, has kept the unique breed for 46 years.

On Friday at Birmingham NEC her years of dedication were more than recognised.

Her boy Krrunch (show name Nikito's Nobody's Fool) won first prize in the post-graduate dog class; her girl Nikitos No Fleas to Tease (pet name Champers) took first prize in the post-graduate bitch class and her big sister Nikitos No Fleas on Me (Bubbles) fourth place in the junior bitch class.

Mrs Sutton, a former employee at Wantage's Broadway Motors – who has also judged Crufts twice – said: "I just like showing and exhibiting: if you have something nice you want to show it off.

"It doesn't matter what breed it is – when I see a nice dog I get a great enjoyment from it."

Sara Robertson, who runs kennels just outside Wallingford with her husband Gavin, entered five dogs: one Jack Russell, one Beagle and three of her speciality breed – Petit Bassets – two of which won prizes.

Champion Sole Trader Magic Mike (Mike to friends) took the crown for Best Male, Best of Breed, for the whole show, while Sole Trader Rita Ora (aka Rita) won the Best Bitch category.

Mrs Robertson, proprietor of Avalon Pet Hotel, said: "I was absolutely delighted because you just never know.

"With pet passports these days you just don't know what's going to be coming from abroad."

Now 43, she has been showing dogs since she was seven years old.

She met her husband through a competition, and he was into Petit Bassets so she became a fan, too.

Now the hobby is practically a full-time job alongside her actual profession.

She said: "It's very competitive, and there's no monetary reward either, just the satisfaction you get from winning.

"I run with them daily, and I've got two young children as well."

Years of competing at Crufts led to Marston resident Sue Hawes winning second place with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Miletree Centauri for Kersmere (Wilfred).

The pair were put to the test as they worked their way round the ring in the showing class of graduate dogs, before the pooch put on his best form whilst being examined by the judge.

Mrs Hawes said: "Dogs are judged on their conformation, movement, temperament as well as appearance, and the judge said he was a very good breed type.

"At home Wilfred is just really full of life, mischievous and loves chasing round the garden. He is a pleasure to own."

Mrs Hawes said she has always owned dogs but was drawn to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for their temperament which fits in well with her lifestyle.

Jill Knott from Upper Heyford near Bicester has been showing dogs at Crufts for 13 years, and this weekend was thrilled to take home two first places with her Australian Shepherd dogs.

Two-year-old Lyveden Texas Ranger (pet name Loki) strutted home with first place Post-Graduate Dog and five-year-old Lyveden Rairrock Rebel (pet name Tylo) secured first place in the Good Citizen Dog Scheme dog class.

Both dogs were no stranger to the ring and stood proudly to impress the judges and secure the double win.

Mrs Knott said: "I was over the moon with the result, you never really know how it is going to go as every judge is different.

"They are just fantastic dogs. My husband works with Tylo on his obedience and as for Loki – I have never known such a naughty boy, but in a good way."

Christine Swietalski from Witney entered four Sussex Spaniels and all of them won top-four placing.

Bowswizzler Heiress Boudica (aka Millie) came first in the Good Citizen Bitch class; her brother Gandalf the Groovy (George) came fourth in the Veteran Dog class; Belcam Kingsmark at Bowswizzler (Douglas) was second in the Good Citizen dog class and Quintic Vogue of Bowswizzler (Esme) came second in the Veteran Bitch class.

She said: "I was thrilled: at 13-and-a-half, this is potentially George and Millie's last Crufts, so to come away with first place was great."

Away from the ring, an Oxfordshire-trained assistance dog was in the running for the title of Crufts Friend for Life which looks to find the nation’s top hero dog.

Joel Sayer, a 13-year-old who has autism, describes his assistance dog Caddie as a ‘guardian angel’ after the pair were matched up by Banbury-based charity Dogs For Good.

The blonde Labrador was trained to support people with disabilities or children with autism and his close relationship with Joel saw them crowned a finalist in the Crufts competition.

Dogs for Good chief executive Peter Gorbing said: "Joel and Caddie are such a good example of the many people Dogs for Good works to support. We regularly see that by developing a special bond with a trained dog they are able to overcome challenges, build confidence and consider new opportunities such as starting a new job or going to college and playing a more active role in their community."

The teenager who now lives in Cornwall with Caddie hoped to win the top prize of £5,000 for the Banbury charity to help pay for training for another assistance dog.

He has set up a page to help raise the funds at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/dogsforgood/joels-appeal