A TEIGNBRIDGE-BRED ‘firecracker’ dog has won a major award at this year’s Crufts dog show.

Monty, the smooth-haired black and tan standard dachshund, was first in his class at the prestigious annual event held by The Kennel Club.

Monty, whose registered name is Jacksondax Hornet Hurrah, was bred from one of Teignbridge-based Hannah Norton’s stud dogs called Hudson.

Monty came first in the Junior Dog section of the breed judging for Smooth Haired Dachshunds.

Aged just one, Monty belongs to Deborah Cartwright, from Paignton, and is shown by her daughter Sara Ryecroft and her husband Tristan who live in Cockington, Torquay.

They took him to Crufts after he had won several other shows.

Monty went to the Oscars of the dog showing world with his half brother, Fantastic Frank, also a son of Hudson.

Hannah, owner of Jacksondax breeders and Devon Petscan, was delighted for Monty.

She said: ‘What a thrill seeing one of my stunning home bred boys winning his class at Crufts.

‘It gives me great pleasure seeing dogs I’ve actually bred go on to win in the show ring with their new families.

‘I chose Monty’s parents carefully, using a stunning girl I imported from the Ukraine, and my ridiculously handsome boy Hudson, who complimented each other perfectly.

‘Massive congratulations to his owners.’

Sara, who shows Monty on behalf of her mum Deborah, said: ‘We started showing with our French Bulldog, had a lot of fun and were doing quite well.’

They continued with their own dogs and then brought Monty in too.

Sara said: ‘He’s a firecracker and had lots of training.

‘He went in for local shows, worked his way up and did well.

‘It’s been a journey but we are are totally over the moon.

‘He has the right shape, body condition and muscle tone.’

Showing dogs is a family affair with Sara and Tristan’s daughter Libby also involved as a junior with another of their dachshunds Diesel.