Fire dog wags his way through to Crufts

7:30am Monday 19th November 2007

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A CRIME fighting canine has wagged his way through to a final round in the world's largest dog show.

Barney the fire investigation dog and his handler Kerry Burns will be competing in the Kennel Club Special Pre-beginner stakes at Crufts, after he wowed judges with his obedience skills.

But Kerry and Barney did not even know they were in the running for the internationally renowned competition when they entered a class at a show last year.

Kerry, from Great Missenden, said: "Crufts was a little bit of a surprise to us. We entered an obedience show as a pet dog before he got the job as a fire investigator. We entered a special class and we won, and that was the heats for the Kennel Club Special Pre-beginner stakes.

"The semi-final was held at Discover Dogs (a Kennel Club event) last Saturday and Barney got placed second, and the top five go through to Crufts."

Barney, a five-and-a-half-year-old black and white collie, has been working for Bucks Fire and Rescue for a year. He and Kerry are called upon when the brigade need help investigating fires they think could have be started deliberately.

Barney lives at home with Kerry, her partner Bryan Tomes, a firefighter at Great Missenden fire station, and their three other pet dogs.

Crufts is due to take place next March in Birmingham.