A second Irish setter has become "violently ill" after sitting close to a dog believed to have been poisoned at the world famous Crufts show.

It comes as the owners of Jagger, who died the day after appearing at the show, spoke of their devastation and rejected claims a rival could be responsible.

Jagger, who came second in his class, died a day after returning home to Belgium.

Reporter Enda Brady says an Ireland-based breeder has told him his dog, who was four benches down from Jagger, became "violently ill" on Thursday.

"He couldn't figure out what was going on," said Brady.

"The dog was very, very ill ... Now he feels it is quite obvious there may have been an attempt to tamper with his dog as well."

"He said it was 'deeply worrying' and 'very sinister'."

Jagger was owned by Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers and Leicester-based breeders Dee Milligan-Bott and her husband, Jeremy Bott.

They have said there is no doubt the dog was poisoned - but believe it is an isolated case.

West Midlands Police in the UK are liaising with Crufts officials and the NEC venue to secure potential evidence and examine CCTV.

Police in Belgium have also launched an investigation.

Ms Lauwers wrote on her Facebook page: "To person (sic) who has done it, hope you can sleep well knowing you have killed our love, family member and best friend to our son."

Ms Milligan-Bott described the dog's painful death as a "heinous crime" and claimed poisoned beef cubes were discovered after an autopsy, although a full toxicology report has yet to be released.

In a post on her Facebook page Ms Milligan-Bott said: "This (poisoning) resulted in a very painful death for our beautiful boy."

"The timings from the autopsy will make it clear the only place this could have been given to Jagger was while on his bench at Crufts."

Appealing for information to find the person responsible, she said she was hopeful a fellow competitor was not involved.

"We can't and we won't think that this was the act of another exhibitor, if we thought this we couldn't go on, and the last 30 years would be a complete waste," she said.

"So I ask all of you to unite in finding the perpetrator who did this, and let's continue to produce and breed our gorgeous dogs who we are all so proud of."

Her husband, Jeremy Bott, said it was "out of the question" that other Crufts owners could have set out to kill Jagger.

The Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, released a statement confirming the dog's death.

"The Kennel Club is deeply shocked and saddened to hear that Jagger the Irish Setter died some 26 hours after leaving Crufts," it said.

"We have spoken to his owners and our heartfelt sympathies go out to them. "e understand that the toxicology report is due next week and until that time we cannot know the cause of this tragic incident."

The four-day show finished on Sunday, with Scottish Terrier Knopa named Best In Show.

Sky reporter Hind Hassan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast earlier about the alleged poisoning of Jagger.