NATALIE Lenton caused a stir at the world's top dog show this year by warming up canine champions before they went into the ring.

Her niche service Canine Massage Therapy Centre, which she operates from Kidderminster, attracted attention from global and national media during Crufts.

"I go to Crufts to support existing clients by providing warm-up massages before their dogs go into the ring to be judged and it's not something that people are generally used to seeing," she explained.

Her centre is one of the few of its kind outside London. She said: "The warm-up massage is invaluable, as many dogs have been on the bench for a long time and the warm-up routine is is like taking your dog for a warm-up walk without having to move from the bench.

"It's designed to mimic the dog's circulatory system so blood is pushed back to the heart to re-oxygenate and muscles are physically warmed up so the dog can perform in the ring to the best of its abilities.

"You could liken it to a footballer or a dancer doing their warm-up before they compete."

She added: "For the show dog, the importance of good gait or movement is just as, if not more, important than a glossy coat, as the movement of a dog can highlight what's happening internally in the body."

She explained: "Intermittent lameness and back problems, sometimes stemming from playing or walking accidents, are typical reasons for treatment or sometimes owners will feel that perhaps there is something not quite right with the way they are moving and they want it identified and resolved.

"On the flip side of the coin, I also get a great deal of dogs who come to me as their owners want to keep them in the best condition possible and this is a great way of maintaining the excellent dog, as it provides a good hands-on check of any potential issues."

Some of her Crufts "clients" included dogs in the working, utility toy and hound group, with several top placings over the four days.

"It's a real privilege to be able to work with some of the country's top handlers and dogs and to see the end result at the most well-known dog show in the world. It's a real buzz," she said.