Geneva International Dog Show, Switzerland

The Geneva International Dog Show is my Marmite – I either love it or find it to be a difficult one. Over the years, I've had both great experiences and some not-so-great ones. Thankfully, this year was one of the good ones, and a fantastic time was had by all. For me, a dog show isn't just about the results, though that's important. It's also about enjoying time with my dogs, sharing those moments together, and connecting with friends who I’ve made through our shared passion for dogs and showing them.

This year, I went to Geneva with William, just the two of us. I did the same with Henry last year. I find it quite stressful to attend Geneva Dog Show with multiple dogs, especially when traveling solo. Accommodations are limited, especially when you're traveling with dogs, so I booked a room at the Hilton, which is dog-friendly and conveniently close to the Pal-Expo, where the show is held.

Geneva can also be quite an expensive show, especially for dogs like Henry, who doesn’t really need the accolades anymore, or for younger dogs like Louis, who’s still in puppy class and not yet eligible for major titles.

This year, the show moved to a different hall at the Pal-Expo, and the judging started later, which made for more space and a much less stressful start to the day. Gone were the long queues from previous years, and the overall experience was definitely more relaxed.

William was absolutely brilliant! He was impeccably behaved and really switched on in the ring. He moves like a dream, and I love handling him. At just 14 months old, there’s still work to be done – particularly with how long he’ll stand still – but I honestly couldn’t be prouder of him. The results speak for themselves.

It’s a long, tiring day for younger dogs, so when William behaves so well and shows his best, it feels like a real achievement for both of us, working together as a team. We made it into the main ring for Best in Show Junior on both days, and William truly owned the big ring!