A Hampshire dog owner who met her partner through sled dog racing is preparing to show her two Siberian Huskies at Crufts.

Tracy Evans, 46, from Stockbridge, will be showing Mya and Poppy, aged eight and one respectively, at the NEC Birmingham next week.

Despite turning nine shortly after Crufts, Mya has never competed before and Evans did not expect she ever would at this age.

But when Evans started taking her rescue dog Mishka to ringcraft classes last year, Mya started feeling left out.

“Mya would just sit by the door all night when I took Mishka to classes,” Evans said. “She felt left out. So I thought I’d take her along and she’d hate it and never want to come again.

“But I learnt you should never try to outsmart a Siberian Husky!

“I took her for a night at ringcraft thinking it would stop her sulking. But I was wrong - she loved it and has now shocked us all by qualifying. It wasn’t the plan at all!”

Crufts is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners.

The world's biggest dog show recognises the varied roles that dogs play in society and highlights the many different disciplines and activities for dogs and owners.

To be qualifying for the first time aged eight is quite unusual, but Evans is feeling excited at Mya getting her first opportunity at the same time as her Husky puppy Poppy.

“I’m really excited about Crufts,” she added. “I’m just really proud of the girls and also really shocked.

“To have taken to it now at the age Mya is, is quite unusual. They do say Siberians are slow to mature!

“The Huskies have got a lot of character and personality so I hope they can show that on the day.”

Evans has her work cut out living with four energetic Huskies, but her love affair with the breed wasn’t exactly planned.

“My love of Huskies came from rescuing my previous dog, Oscar,” she said. “He looked like a German Shepherd to me - it was only when I went to pick him up from the rescue centre that I realised I was reading the paperwork upside down and found out he was a Husky cross!

“So I went home and ordered a Husky book. He was a Husky in Shepherd’s clothing. It was through having him and my relationship with him that made me love the breed.”

Evans’ dogs have also led to more love in her life, as she met her partner Chris through racing.

“It was only through racing with the dogs that I got to know Chris,” she said. “When we started spending more time together, our Huskies had to integrate as a ‘blended pack’.”

Evans, Chris and their ‘blended pack’ will be hoping to continue their love story at Crufts next month.

Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. Crufts is held from 7-10 March 2024 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4, and for further information and tickets visit: http://crufts.org.uk