Crufts youngest ever winner, 6, reveals his dog’s cheeky behaviour off-screen in adorable TV moment

A six-year-old schoolboy has made history as one of the youngest ever winners of a Crufts’ show.

Adorable Freddie Osborne, from Bobbington, Staffordshire, already set a record when he became the youngest entrant to qualify for the world-famous dog show last year.

Freddie and his ‘best friend’, a smooth fox terrier, Penny, competed on Terrier & Hound Day at the NEC arena in Birmingham, and came out on top to win first class in the veteran category.

Crufts is a prestigious dog show put on by The Kennel Club, and which takes place every year in the United Kingdom. 

Speaking to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on Good Morning Britain today, Freddie and eight-year-old Penny could barely contain their excitement as the youngster discussed his incredible win.

And the ambitious kid is already looking ahead to the next big trophy. When Ed asked the youngster if he could accomplish a win a second year in a row, he responded with a resounding ‘yes!’

Freddie, who was dressed in a suave tartan-style brown suit and a sky blue crisp shirt, proudly showed off two trophy ribbons, each reading ‘first in class’ and ‘best veteran’.

He also excitedly displayed a red certificate that read ‘first place 2025 at Crufts’.

Freddie was accompanied on the show by his father James, who doted on his son and opened up about his special relationship with his furry pal, Penny.

‘She’s [Penny has] been there ever since he arrived’ said James. 

‘They’ve just always been together. She’s kind of just looked after you ever since day one’, he reflected.

Freddie too has grown incredibly fond of his pooch, and even let spill that Penny loved to sleep in his room and the pair could barely keep apart.

‘Last night she tried to wake me up’ he told the hosts with a gigantic smile. ‘She wanted to sleep with me!’

Ed waded in with a question that almost put the youngster in a spot of trouble: ‘Is she allowed to sleep in your bed?’ he asked.

The smart lad paused to contemplate his answer before blurting out ‘yeah, I think so’.

Perhaps tired of the bright lights and attention, Penny then began strolling around the studio and at one moment appeared to take a swipe at Susanna’s pristine white leather shoes.

The presenters congratulated Freddie and Penny for their amazing feat, and for beating out competitors to be named the best in the ‘entire country’.

Freddie was given special permission to take the day off from school so he could compete at Birmingham’s NEC on March 6.

Speaking excitedly before the show he said: ‘I love dog shows and I love Penny because she’s not just my dog, she’s my best friend.

‘I am really looking forward to being with her in the arena.

‘At home she likes to lick you, sit on your lap and cuddles. I like going for walks with her as they are fun and gets you fresh air.

‘But I like doing the dog shows and getting prizes and rosettes’.

His mother Kimberley, 34, added: ‘He was only two weeks old when he first came to Crufts with us and he has been going ever since.

‘He’s always helped us with our dogs but this will be the first time he has competed there’.

Freddie was just five when he and Penny qualified for Crufts at the Birmingham National.

Veteran dog show judges Caroline Friend-Rees and Zena Thorn Andrews also provided feedback ahead of Freddie’s big day.

‘He was given some great advice by veteran judges and best in class winners this weekend’ said his mum.

‘He was also taught the right etiquette needed to impress the judges at Crufts.

‘However, we went to the Fox Terrier Show in South Wales this weekend and it really was the perfect final preparations for Crufts.

‘He has got his game face on and Penny looks better than she ever has before’.

The Osbourne family breed smooth fox terriers under the kennel name Forgevale and are in partnership with Margaret Hughes from Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Kimberly added: ‘Sadly they are on the native vulnerable breed list and endangered.

‘In the 1930s smooth fox terriers were classed as one of the most popular dogs but now they are endangered.

‘But they are so loving as a breed and really good with children so we really want to highlight that’.