A teenager from Cumbria has secured a prestigious spot at the ‘world’s greatest dog show’.

Martha Wake competed in a Young Kennel Club obedience competition and successfully qualified for Crufts 2025.

The 14-year-old, from Millom, entered the competition with her 13-month-old Toy Poodle River.

(Image: Karen Wake)

It was River's first competition and Martha’s first experience of the obedience class.

Martha also has a Whippet called Lola and a small Collie dog called Tiggi.

While Lola and Tiggi both compete in agility, River was too young to enter the class so was signed up to the obedience class ‘for a laugh’.

Where Agility sees dogs take on a set of obstacles, Obedience sees competitors work with their dogs to complete a set of challenges set by the judge.

Martha has travelled to competitions all over the country and is supported by her mum Karen Wake.

Martha and her mum travel around most holidays and weekends going to shows, even making the journey to Belgium last month as a travelling reserve as part of the team GB junior dog agility team.

(Image: Karen Wake)

Karen said: “Sometimes Martha struggles to follow instructions, just like River! I’m really chuffed and very proud of them. It takes a lot of skill.

“West Lakeland Dog Training Club have been really supportive, especially of Martha, they’re like our second family now.”

Martha was just ten years old when she first started in the field. When she saw people setting up an agility course on her way home from school one day, Martha walked over and asked to have a go with her dog.

It took off from there and is her ‘whole life now’.

Martha said she was 'really excited' for Crufts and hopes to carry her passion on and make it a career. She is thinking about becoming an animal physical therapist.

Karen said the dogs love her daughter and follow her everywhere she goes.

“Martha finds some bits hard, it's not all plain sailing but so long as she and the dogs are having fun, long may it continue," she said.

(Image: Karen Wake)

Martha will compete at Crufts with both River in the Obedience class and Lola in the Agility class in March 2025.

Martha is a Year Nine pupil at Millom School, who gave their student a ‘huge congratulations’.

In a post on their social media page, the school said: “Both River and Martha were amazing and actually came first! This has qualified them for Crufts 2025.

“Well done Martha and River - can’t wait to see your progress on Crufts."