Lucy Hiam, 26, admitted that her love for animals never wavered despite her traumatic experience, and is now set to soak up a whole week a the world’s biggest dog show.
Working alongside dogs in her day job, Hiam also set up her own training business, Show Day Solutions, specialising in show dog training and ringcraft and will oversee several clients competing at the NEC as well.
A veteran in the event over the past few years, Hiam will take to the green carpet alongside her Cairn Terrier Ace this year in his debut, but all credit goes to her older dog Oscar for getting her in the door after rebuilding her confidence.
“When I was a young teen, about 12 years old, I actually got attacked by a dog,” she said. “It was my own dog, unfortunately, and I did have to have plastic surgery on my face to fix the bite wounds.
“That just knocked my confidence completely. Obviously, being a young girl at those school ages as well, it’s not the most ideal situation to be in.
“But it never swayed my love for dogs and my mum was very adamant that we wasn’t going to get another dog after that, but I convinced her with all my might.
“And that’s when little Oscar come along, and he just built me back up.
“He was a little cross breed when I first started, but he showed me the love of the dogs and everything else. I literally take him everywhere. I still take him everywhere with me now, and he has brought me so many opportunities.”
Hiam was working for a doggy day care business when she was introduced to the world of dog showing and ring craft by her colleague.
Enraptured by the sport and the opportunities it brings, she immediately jumped in and has been exhibiting at Crufts ever since.
Now with her own business to help support people in the showing world, Haim also attended the Pawscars, the Oscars for dogs, the night before Crufts 2026 kicks off, winning Training Class of the Year.
It speaks to the love and dedication she has for the world of ring craft and Haim admitted that she can not wait to get back to the world’s biggest celebration of dogs, no matter where her and Ace finish.
“I’m a big believer that success isn’t just about the placings,” she said. “Success is just walking out the ring with a dog that feels happy and confident.
“It’s something I talk a lot about with people that I work with, that success is about partnership, it’s about presentation, but also about overall wellbeing.
“Crufts is a celebration of the dog world, and it’s an absolute honour to be there among the best but at the end of the day, it’s what the two individuals, the dog and the handler, do that matters the most.
“It’s about enjoying each other and just absolutely having the best time at the world’s greatest dog show.”
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 5-8 March 2025 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4 and More4, and for further information and tickets visit crufts.org.uk
