Shannon Barden of Bishops Bridge has been competing in dog shows since he was seven, and has won more than 70 best in show titles with various dogs.

He has had five-year-old Murphy since birth, and has brought home 35 best in show titles with the champion Borzoi.

Shannon and Murphy will now go on to the Best in Hound stage of the competition on Easter Monday, and if successful they will compete for the Best in Show award later that afternoon.

Shannon said he was feeling good about the competition, after taking out the Best in Hound group with Murphy last year.

“He’s more mature than last year,” Shannon said.

“Murphy is currently number two in the country and looking better and better so he has a great chance of performing strongly for the title of Best in Show.”

The Royal Dog Show is the biggest dog competition in the Southern Hemisphere, and Shannon said he enjoys travelling around and meeting wonderful people at the shows.

He is hoping to eventually take Murphy overseas and showcase him to the world.

“If I have the financial capability, then why not?” he said.

But for now, the pair just has their eyes on the prize ahead.

“It’s all up to the judge on the day but Murphy loves it as much as I do and each show is a chance for us to better ourselves,” Shannon said.

“There’s nothing I love more than seeing all our hard work pay off so we are really looking forward to it. 

“Hopefully next time you see us we will be celebrating another win!”

 Shannon said he would like to thank his sponsor Purina for making his and Murphy’s job a little easier.

“Without them it would not be possible to do some of the things that I do,” he said.