A DOG owner from St Mawgan narrowly missed out on claiming the ultimate crossbreed prize at the world’s greatest dog show.

Jenny Michell, and Rocky, her seven-year-old German Shepherd, Collie, ‘other bits’ and Chihuahua cross, were runners-up for the Scruffts family crossbreed of the year title at Crufts, which took place at the NEC in Birmingham from March 5 to 8.

The category was won by Marnie, an eight-year-old Terrier cross owned by 77-year-old Lyn Freeman from Harlow, Essex.

Hundreds of dogs competed in qualifying heats around the country in 2024, with 24 dogs and their owners taking part in the semi-finals.

Jenny, 54, said: "We're over the moon.

“We've worked so hard with him because he had a lot of social skills as a pup and growing up. So, we've just trained, and trained, and trained him all the time. The good citizens gave him a good foundation, and a good skill set to work on and improve on. I'm so, so proud of him.

"It's lived up to everything we thought it would be. It's been amazing to be back [stage] here and see everything that goes off when you're watching it on telly. The staff are amazing; I don't know how they do it. But it all goes like clockwork."

The four finalists were judged by Dame Laura Kenny, and dog judge David Craig, who were looking for qualities such as good character, health and temperament with people and other dogs.

The Scruffts Family crossbreed of the year competition is run by the Royal Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, and caters exclusively for crossbreed dogs.

Marnie received a year’s supply of healthy hypo-allergenic dog food from James Wellbeloved as well as the Scruffts crossbreed family dog of the year title.