Kidderminster Dog Club and its award-winning agility team is preparing for another show stopping performance at Crufts next month (8-11 March) with the support of Fish4Dogs.

The team, which has won the medium dog category three times and was runner-up in last year’s show, is being put through its paces to fine-tune its dexterity and accuracy, against the clock.

Fish4Dogs, which is located in Rushock in Worcester, has sponsored the neighbouring team since 2009 – providing it with a team kit – polo shirts and fleeces for the handlers, and food and treats for the dogs.

Team Captain Stuart Milton, said that Fish4Dogs was the ideal choice to fuel its canine athletes because it provides a healthy and nutritious diet which can be used, in part, to reward the dogs as they master their skills.

“Although we can’t use food or treat during the competition, Fish4Dogs products are used during training to reward the dogs as they master the techniques of the hurdles, tunnels and contact equipment,” he said.

“It’s important to reward the dog as it needs to be attentive and responsive in order to make the turns and stops required as the handler guides it though each course.

“It’s important to keep the dogs healthy and lean and a well-balanced diet is essential. Fish4Dogs also provides the essential nutrients needed to keep their joints in great condition. When I’m training I like to use Finest Complete Food with Salmon. I take a handful from the portion set aside for my dog’s evening meal so that she is still eating the amounts that she would do on a daily basis and no more.”

The team is made up of six handlers and their dogs – although only four compete during the competition. They train individually and meet regularly to test the dogs on different surfaces so that they can adapt their instruction times to allow the dog to adjust to the footing of the floor. Normally, competitions throughout the year tend be on grass or sand-based surfaces but at Crufts the show ring is carpeted.

It’s not until the morning of the event that the team get to learn the layout of the Crufts course. It has to be challenging enough to put the best teams to the test and excite the audience while ensuring the safety of the dogs.

Kidderminster Dog Club qualified for Crufts at the Middlesbrough event in October. They usually compete around the country four to six-times a year. The agility team includes a border collie, working cocker spaniel, Shetland sheepdog and a crossbreed. All the dogs must between 350 cms and 430 cms in height to be eligible to compete within the medium dog category.

The team has been drawn fifth in the running order for the Crufts event, which will take place on Friday 9 March at the NEC, Birmingham. This will mean that other teams will set a standard that it has to beat.

In addition to the team event, one of its members Steve Swankie with crossbreed Fern, have also qualified for the Crufts Medium Championship on the Sunday.

Said Senior Marketing Manager Jo Little: “We are really proud of our association with the Kidderminster Dog Club. This is the tenth year that they have made the finals of the world’s most famous dog show and we are again please to support their efforts to become champions.”

Fish4Dogs has produced a video of the team in training which can be seen on its Facebook page in the run-up to Crufts.