In a shocking near-miss captured on video, a toy poodle named Phillip accidentally set his ear on fire from a candle just days before competing at Crufts in Birmingham. Nakita O’Hare Wilson, 35, from Ayrshire, Scotland, recorded the incident involving her 14-month-old show poodle.
The footage, filmed by a living room camera on March 4, 2025, shows Phillip on the coffee table searching for food while Nakita’s husband Kenneth, 38, watches television unaware. As Phillip’s head brushes close to a lit candle on the table, his fur quickly ignites. Kenneth instantly reacts, shouting and patting the dog to extinguish the flames.
Nakita described the tense moment: “It was scary looking back on it now, but I’m relieved Phillip wasn’t hurt.” After the singeing, Phillip bolted away, and Nakita noticed the burnt smell and her husband’s alarm.
READ MORE: ‘I work for the DWP - please be kinder to us, we’re human too’
READ MORE: Midland Father Shocked as Car Is Vandalized by ‘Motor Cannibals’ After Football Match
Remarkably, the incident happened only three days before Phillip was scheduled to compete in the Toy Poodle Good Citizen category at Crufts. Despite losing some fur on his ear, Phillip bounced back, went to the groomers the next day for repairs, and went on to secure second place in the competition.
Nakita, a professional dog breeder who owns 10 other dogs including an Italian greyhound and nine miniature dachshunds, reflected on the experience: “This was a first for us and really couldn’t have come at a worse time. We had just spent £100 on grooming sessions every three weeks since January. Thankfully, the groomers did a fantastic job, and it was barely noticeable.”
Following the incident, Nakita has relocated all candles to out-of-reach areas and no longer lights them to keep her pets safe. She warns other pet owners: “No matter how well trained your dog is, you can’t be too careful around open flames. Don’t leave lit candles where your pets can reach them.”