Editorial: March 14, 2024

What can you say about a dog show that has 24,000 dogs, approximately 150,000 visitors and a queen? No, no, a real, honest-to-goodness monarch, Queen Sophia of Spain, and her party of eight imposing male Spaniards. As you know, Crufts is The Royal Kennel Club’s dog show. From its inception, The Royal Kennel Club was known as The Kennel Club, and the late Queen Elizabeth was its patron. On her passing, her son Charles became king. He granted a royal title to The Kennel Club, and now its name has been changed to The Royal Kennel Club. It’s quite an honor to have the king bestow this title on The Kennel Club. It was given in no small part in memory of his beloved mother, who was known for her love of horses and dogs — a love she passed on to all her children. While all the signage at Crufts did not reflect the name change, members of The Kennel Club are honored and humbled by this recognition. Crufts should be on every dog lover’s and especially dog-showing fancier’s short list of shows to attend. Even just once, to witness firsthand the enormity of the event organized without the benefit of professional dog-show superintendents. It is an in-house operation whose efficiency rivals none. There are five exhibition halls, plus an arena for special attractions, groups and Best in Show judging. In addition to all the conformation judging, there were special events, an international junior-showmanship competition, hunting demonstrations, hunt classes and, of course, Discover Dogs, where every breed is represented and the crowds walking those aisles are overwhelming. The kennel club itself has a large presence, and you can get any information that you might need, including pedigrees. Yes, it is part trade show, but that’s part of its magic, and much of the public does its once-a-year pet shopping there. Spectators come with shopping wagons just to fill up on dog beds, toys and any other dog equipment they might need. Unlike our dog shows in the United States, whose support from dog-food companies requires them to have exclusive representation at the shows, The Royal Kennel Club allows every and all dog-food companies to have a presence if they so desire. That way, if one pulls its financial support, there are others to offset the loss. Because of the huge entries, it’s also true that if you watch one breed’s entire judging you could be at one ring the entire day. For example, Labrador Retrievers have two rings: one for dogs and one for bitches. This year there were 219 dogs and 266 bitches. Even Terrier breeds, which are slowly fading in entries in the States, numbered 2,220 dogs — almost twice the amount of the all-terrier Montgomery County Kennel Club entries. The numbers are just overwhelming, just like the reaction of a first-time visitor. Next year’s dates are Thursday through Sunday, March 5 through 8. Thursday will be Working and Pastoral breeds and groups; Friday, Terrier and Hound breeds and groups; Saturday, Utility and Toy breeds and groups, and Sunday will be Gundog breeds, group and Best in Show.