A Crufts debut led to a win for Devizes dog Dexter and his delighted owners, Jack and Linda Grindrod.

Dexter, a fawn-coloured ten-month-old, won the best male Briard puppy category at the world-famous dog show at the Birmingham NEC.

He comes from winning stock, as the son of Seiso, who won the best male Briard at Crufts last year and has also triumphed in America.

Dexter was shown in the ring at Crufts by Seiso’s owner, Sonya Hillier of Charlton St Peter.

Mr and Mrs Grindrod decided to have a Briard after meeting Ms Hillier at Devizes Dog Parlour and said Dexter was adored by other dogs and owners when they took him out walking near their home in the Quakers Walk area.

Mr Grindrod, 63, a former teacher who now designs and sells kitchens, said: “We have never been to a dog show before. When Dexter won at Crufts, we were pleased, but I don’t think we appreciated how good it was.

“People have been telling us it’s a great achievement. We didn’t buy him as a show dog, we just wanted another member of the family, but he has turned out to be both.

“Sonya asked if she could take him to dog shows and he won top puppy in both shows he went to and qualified for Crufts. Dexter is so loveable and is a monkey at times, but he is a puppy. Everyone who knows Dexter calls him a great big teddy bear.”

Ms Hillier took her other Briard puppies to Crufts and came away with second, third and fifth placings.