Video: Pawsative pooch can’t stop winning

Canine prize winner Max, who will be four in March, has been an unprecedent success for owners Val and David Wade, of Oldestone showing kennels, Old Town, having won thirteen challenge certificates over his short career.

The show champion dog, whose competition name is Ballakinish Malachi at Oldestone, won his first certificate, or ticket, before his second birthday.

Owner Val said: “To be a show champion, you’ve got to be the best dog at a championship show where tickets are on offer.

“He got his first ticket at 21 months, which for a setter is really early as they’re slow maturing dogs.

“He’s been such an outstanding dog that he’s now got 13 tickets - at 13 seperate shows.”

Max is also proving himself as a worthy Sire, having fathered four litters already before his fourth birthday.

One 11 month old dog, Brian, who also lives at Oldestone, won best reserve male at only his third championship show - father Max took the overall victory.

If that wasn’t enough, a bitch in Max’s first litter, Summer, has recently been named as the Our Dog’s ‘Top Winning Puppy’ of all breeds in the top puppy competition 2014.

Val said: “Setters don’t have their coat till they’ve matured, so it’s rare for them to win shows as a puppy.

“It’s so rare, that it’s never been done. We’re thrilled to bits.”

David, said: “We got our first dog for showing in 1965, that was an Irish Setter. We’ve had Irish Red and White Setters for about 22 years and have been seriously showing them for now about 14 years.”

“We’ve had other champion dogs like Doug, who had six tickets, but Max has just flown away with them.”