Former Northampton university student aims for success at Crufts
A PhD student from Northamptonshire will be taking time away from her studies to show at Crufts for the first time with the four-legged friend that was the star of the show at her graduation.
Crick’s Megan Green, aged 25, is studying for a PhD in Molecular Dynamics and Molecular Modelling at the University of Northampton, having completed a degree in Biochemistry last year.
Her three-year-old labrador, Lyra, will be part of the obedience and display team exhibitions at the world’s largest dog show, which will take place at the Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.
Ms Green requires the use of a wheelchair and credits Lyra, who is a disability assistance dog, with helping her finish her degree due to how she assists her through her day-to-day life.
Ms Green said: “She helps me with things like picking stuff up, going to retrieve things, shutting and opening certain doors, pressing lift buttons and opening automatic door buttons so I can keep wheeling.
“She’s nuts most of the time, but she absolutely loves anything to do with learning.
“If you don’t keep her busy, we say she goes a bit ‘self-employed’ and finds something else she can get into mischief with if you don’t keep her brain engaged in some sort of way.
“She very quickly took into this kind of sports world, but she is also my assistance dog, so she loves it and she wouldn’t be who she is if she wasn’t doing something like this.”
Lyra has been with Ms Green’s family since she was eight weeks old and accompanied her to her graduation ceremony at the UoN last year, garnering plenty of attention in the process.
As a duo, they have enjoyed plenty of success in the two years they have been showing, which has led them to a place at Crufts, which she has attended as a spectator on numerous occasions.
She said: “I genuinely didn’t think we’d take as many first places we did in our first year of doing obedience – we did it more for the social aspect of getting out of the house and doing something together.
“Taking home anything was just an added bonus, it wasn’t just going there for loads of ribbons.
“I’ve very much enjoyed going to Crufts to meet all the different dog breeds there, and having a cuddle with a few of them, it’s always been a nice, fun experience.
“This is my first time being there competing and demoing, which we didn’t think would happen so soon, but she definitely deserves it.”
Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. Crufts is held from 5-8 March 2025 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4 and More4, and for further information and tickets visit crufts.org.uk.