I am looking for Crufts qualified handlers from the Weardale area who would be interested in appearing in an article for the Weardale Gazette.

I am the journalist and everything that is written comes from the handlers themselves - I co-ordinate the responses and the handlers may also forward any photos they would like to see printed. We never publish addresses and the article will appear AFTER Crufts - as a report on how our local handlers did - so no one need worry about their security being compromised. I have had over 300 articles published as a journalist for the Kennel Gazette, Dog World and Our Dogs under my maiden name of Marisa Keophaithool. I have also been an editor for TFH, the world's largest publisher of pet books and had a book published called How to Train Your Dog. My website is www.topdogtrainingclub.com if you would like to know more about me.

So I hope this will set people's minds at rest - this is a serious piece and a chance to show the positive side of dog ownership as I am hoping to feature handlers from a variety of disciplines such as showing, flyball, obedience, agility etc.

Please contact me at simonmarisa@tiscali.co.uk.

Many thanks

Marisa Spurgeon