Crufts 2025, Love it or Hate it?

I'm not against dog shows in principle, but I do believe that the Kennel Clubs must take care of breed standards and not allow certain characteristics to be exaggerated.

Since I have had both mixed breed and pure-bred but non-registered dogs, I have no experience with what breeders must do, or how the clubs hold breeders accountable.

I do love seeing the different breeds in the ring, and believe that most of the dogs quite enjoy the attention.

I stopped watching Crufts some years ago, after publicity about unnecessary docking of tails and other ‘breed requirements’.

Plus I remember feeling so sorry for those standard poodles, lovely big dogs made to look so ridiculous with those ‘haircuts.’

Georgesgran is imo right in her comments about ‘show’ dogs. The people I know who are involved in breeding and showing all focus on one breed. Labradors, spaniels, German shepherds are the dogs and people I know best. Their dogs live in, they’re much loved. All my dogs have enjoyed showers an grooming. I have to brush my lab daily but even then everywhere is covered in golden lab dust
My dogs watch me, if the grooming kit comes out, the spaniel runs to be lifted onto the table, the lab waits till she’s on the floor the goes to stand at the door waiting to be groomed outside
Some poodle crosses are sweet natured family pets but so many are ruined by being treated like fur babies. Cross a poodle with a spaniel and you just might get the worst not the best of the breeds, both clever, sensitive dogs that need exercise, boundaries, routines and security. Without these the dogs often develop resource guarding/separation anxiety etc

I think we’d do well with Claire Balding advising our government on many things 😏

Annoyingly Channel 4 News was cut to 30 minutes on Thursday to make way for Crufts. Dogs more important than Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, European defence etc.

Georgesgran

We haven’t gone to Crufts this year (DD2 too busy). There’s a lot more to the event than just showing. The Discover Dogs section is always our first and favourite destination.
It’s difficult to explain, but dogs become used to the lifestyle of showing and I believe enjoy it - after all it’s spending time with their owners and pleasing them. I suppose the same could be said for horses and farm animals transported from one County Show to another - not to mention numerous shows for rabbits, cavies, cats and birds.
We had working dogs who were exercised and trained daily, but when DH appeared at their kennel in a certain outfit, the excitement grew as they knew they were in for real work. Such dogs get a mental as well as a physical workout.
Iam64 is spot on with the issue of some designer dogs, (mongrels) often sold to owners who literally don’t have a clue where to start. The dog is so pampered that it becomes ‘top dog’ and rules the home, often with disastrous results! As cute and loving as they are - part of the family too, but dogs are animals and I don’t believe they should be dressed up and carried around for their owner’s entertainment. During Covid, my friend’s sons both bought such dogs, at hugely inflated prices, one a goldendoodle, the other a cockerpoo - both sons teach and she has had to step into exercise both dogs 5 days a week. She does it with good grace, as it gives her a good daily walk - but neither dog can be off-lead, as they have no recall. DH said he could have taught that in a week, but his offer was declined, as he wasn’t well.

As for Clare - we sat beside her at Crufts a couple of years ago - she was charming.
Being brought up around animals all her life makes her a good, knowledgeable host and I hope people heed what advice she and various guests offer.

Great informative post

I love Labradors but would never have one as I’m a lazy dog owner and would never give one the exercise it needs. I don’t know if it’s just me; maybe it’s because I like the black Balmoral type Labradors, but I never look at the ones that do well at Crufts and find them to my liking. Our neighbour lost his yellow Labrador last weekend and we’re really upset as she was lovely. I always remember walking past their garden a couple of years ago and all of her cuddly toys had been washed and were hanging on the line to dry. Although I don’t have Cocker Spaniels any more I still melt when I see Spaniel puppies; that interview with the woman who had a litter of spaniel puppies made me remember just how adorable they are.

I remember back in 2016 a German Shepherd won best in breed. It was obvious, even to me, that the poor dog could not walk normally and had a sloping back. I believe that highly bred German Shepherds tend to have hip dysplasia and I wondered if this dog had this problem and if so why was it allowed to enter Crufts let alone win a class. I hope and trust that Crufts have tightened the rules since then.

Witzend

I stopped watching Crufts some years ago, after publicity about unnecessary docking of tails and other ‘breed requirements’.

Plus I remember feeling so sorry for those standard poodles, lovely big dogs made to look so ridiculous with those ‘haircuts.’

I remember 2 guys showing their 3 big poodles, with that ridiculous pompom cut, and 1 died pale green, one pale blue and one pale pink. They told me the dogs oved it!

They said that there is a law going through parliament that will stop the import of dogs with cropped ears.

That’s correct Indigo, German shepherds do have a tendency to hip dysplasia and it’s exacerbated by the ‘fashion’ for a downward sloping back. Cruel and utterly pointless, causing disability, pain and therefore premature death to save further suffering when pain relief is insufficient.

I used to know a farmer who had a little Yorkie. She was given to him by a breeder because she was too tiny to breed from safely. Very exalted pedigree but you should have seen her bringing the cows in! Up to her ears in mud, but they all did what she told them, including the collies.

So long as a dog is loved and well cared for they just want to be with their beloved owners whether they are working dogs, show dogs, pampered pets or scraggy mutts. They don’t care if their hair is clipped and dyed sky blue pink so long as they are happy in their surroundings.

The dogs I feel sorry for are neglected, treated cruelly, starved and abandoned or worse.

Good post Merlotgran.

I have to say I think Crufts coverage has excelled itself this year. Lessons have been learned from the breeding mistakes of previous years. And all of my favourite dogs seem to have made it to the final. A Whippet, a Mini and a Cocker. I don’t know which one I’ll be rooting for. I love seeing all the unusual breeds. I’ve spent my life looking out for the unusual breeds that are in the Observer.Book of Dogs that I’ve had from childhood. The information and advice on the programme has been excellent, too. Oh, they’re just showing a Portuguese Water dog. I used to meet one on the beach. I’ve even got excited watching the fly ball. I still don’t like the dancing with dogs, though, I’m afraid

Peggy and I will be rooting for the Jack Russell….of course! 😂🐾🐶

I’d forgotten the Jack Russell. It’s a beauty.. They’re currently talking about hearing dogs. I first met a hearing dog when I was in C&A one day and was so impressed: then had a friend who trained them. I just think dogs are wonderful.

As the owner/family member of a yellow show type lab and a cocker spaniel, I’ll be watching best in show with interest (and my dogs)

We enjoyed the agility/fly-ball bits

All those speedy border collies make my fairly speedy spaniel look like she’s asleep. I tried agility with my huge lab -he simply ran through, knocking things over. My poodle crosses (in the past 💖💙) loved agility and were good at it

We have small 5 year old fox-red lab, it was lockdown when she came, so missed out on the opportunity to try fly-ball, she is a bit “whippetty” so always thought she could have been a contender. She loves 🎾 she has an extensive collection!

I bought my Whippet a tuggy toy after seeing that the fly ball dogs were rewarded with a tuggy toy after their run. She absolutely loves it even though it’s lost its squeak. I hadn’t realised that using Whippets for fly ball is relatively recent. My dogs speed terrifies me. On the rare occasion when she is allowed to run at full speed I close my eyes.

I remember going to some agility competitions years ago, they are amazing.

The dogs seem so eager to compete too.

Have done the dog showing, including Crufts. I’d say please don’t knock it until you’ve tried it the same as anything really.
There are extremes everywhere as with everything else in life.
As for tv coverage I watch small parts on fast forward or catch up. I’d much rather go along to shop and see anything I wanted to see as I find the coverage too much.

I'm rooting for the whippet. Lovely colouring.

I don’t understand how people can go to dog shows week in week out but I think they must enjoy the social side of it. I couldn’t cope with all the driving, though.