A VERY friendly Rottweiler from Oxfordshire has won a ‘best in breed’ title at Crufts.

Clare Franklin, 44, and her husband and business partner Edward, 46, from East Hagbourne, are the owners of Otto the Rottweiler and they are delighted with their pooch’s title.

Ms Franklin said: “I never thought he would win.”

Read also: Dog 'stolen' from outside family's home near Chipping Norton

She added: “I came to Crufts thinking how pleased I would be if he came in the top five.

“For Otto, my baby, to win best breed, well, I feel so emotional I could cry.”

Otto the Rottweiler competed against more than 180 other entrants and 14 finalists before he took the spot as top dog.

The Franklins are a family of animal lovers.

Mr Franklin’s parents are farmers in Hagbourne and he was brought up surrounded by animals.

When Otto’s not competing at Crufts, he nannies the other Franklin pets.

Read also: Are GP surgeries closed because of Coronavirus fears?

Also in the family are four whippets, two cats, two sheep and a herd of pygmy goats, which Ms Franklin also shows.

This year was Otto’s fifth time at Crufts, and he has come in second place three times before taking the top prize this year.

Ms Franklin said: “Otto was in the open male dog class, which is the hardest class, and he won.

“He was up against 186 other Rottweilers.”

She added: “Otto has a heart of gold.

“He really is a member of our family who takes it upon himself to look after whippet puppies and play with our two sheep.”