A YOUNG handler and her dog triumphed in the internationally renowned Crufts dog show last week, being awarded two top five positions.

Liberty Sale, 13, from Bere Alston, and her family, attended the show in Birmingham with her 18 month old Alaskan Malamute bitch Nukka, and was awarded second place in the special yearling category and a very highly commended fifth place in the post graduate classes.

Liberty has only been dog showing for ten months, since Nukka has been old enough.

Liberty's mother and Nukka's chief groomer Jane, said: 'It's every dog shower's ultimate dream to get into Crufts. We were pleased to go just for the experience but to actually be awarded something was amazing.

'Liberty was absolutely on a high and I had tears in my eyes seeing her up there. The younger ones normally go in with the juniors but Liberty was in with the adults and up against some of the best showers in the world.'

Jane said only first to fifth places in the categories get certificates, so to be awarded a place at Crufts was a really big achievement.

'It's a family hobby. She takes us all over the country to open shows and competitions and the whole family goes together. It's such an amazing experience and we've made really good friends through it. It has changed our lives completely.'

Nukka is also a working and racing dog.

'My husband and my younger daughter Holly race Nukka on a rig. We recently got another puppy of the same breed — my husband says he wants a whole team of them.'

Liberty, Nukka and her family are already preparing to attend upcoming shows and competitions to try to qualify for Crufts next year.