Editorial: March 20, 2026

The Good… Once a year nearly twenty thousand dogs, thousands of exhibitors and 150,000 spectators travel to Birmingham to attend a world class and one-off event to celebrate pure bred dogs. It’s a four-day festival that is unrivaled anywhere in the World. When you think of the size of Great Britain and its population, the numbers are staggering.
We have been attending the show since the 1980’s and the excitement and wonder of how it all gets done still amazes. It runs like clockwork; judging starts on the scheduled time and ends at the scheduled time. Not to mention all other dog related events that are hold over the four days. From Game Keepers classes to heel work to music. Breeds known and unknown in the United States are showcased and gives the audience a chance to see and select a breed of their liking. For the breeders, it’s a chance to see a dog they might want to include in their breeding program. Since the quarantine was abolished, it also offers an opportunity to see dogs not only from the United Kingdom but dogs from all over the World. It’s all things dogs, often imitated but never duplicated.

The Bad… Given the long tradition and reputation of Crufts, it’s size and scope as a worldwide showcase for pure bred dogs, it is an easy target for those animal rights groups to demonstrate and express their opposing opinions. Year and year, there are negative billboard signs or attempts by protesters to disrupt the dog show inside the venue.  Much to their credit, the Royal Kennel Club Cruft’s Committee headed by Tom Mather has upped the security to prevent these disruptions. The AR groups have decimated the reputation of the world of pure bred dogs and our related activities. There is a great disconnect worldwide with the public perception of pure bred dog breeders and their goals of improving their stocks’ health and dedication to preserve their respective breeds and those who oppose us. Sadly, they are winning public opinion. 

The Ugly… This year a Clumber Spaniel was awarded best in show. A popular win for the those in the arena and great boast for a venerable breed. Shortly after the celebration, a previous conviction of animal cruelty was reported about the breeder and owner of the dog. This offense took place twenty-five years ago. Fined and reprimanded by the Royal Kennel Club (then The Kennel Club) and owning his misdeed, he went onto the sport with great success. He made a mistake, twenty-five years ago and paid the price. We don’t claim to know all the details of that offense, but the Kennel Club found his offense punishable but not enough to take away all his privileges for life.  We are not questioning the rights and wrongs of the situation; we are just saddened that this event has been upended by this revelation. Ugly, because all the good work of the Crufts Dog Show to promote pure bred dogs and their love of all dogs now has this blemish that has grabbed the headlines. It gives those animal rights groups the ammunition they so desperately need to discredit us. Sadly, when the sport gets national press, it tends to be negative, for that we are saddened.