Crufts 2022: dates of Birmingham NEC dog show, how to get tickets, event schedule, and when is it on TV?

Crufts is returning to Birmingham. This will be the events 130th anniversary celebration.

The event was cancelled last year due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and will officially return in March 2022.

Crufts made headlines back in 2018 when PETA protesters interrupted the crowning ceremony by rushing into the ring.

Just as Judge Jill Peak was about to crown the winner three protesters broke through the barriers in front of a crowd of over 9,000.

A spokesperson from Crufts said: “It appears that protesters from PETA gained unauthorised access to the ring in the main arena at Crufts, and in doing so scared the dogs and put the safety of both dogs and people at risk in a hugely irresponsible way.”

The event is just around the corner, so here is everything you need to know about attending the biggest dog event in the UK.

What is Crufts?

Crufts has been a time honoured event where dog owners can show off their pampered pooch. The show celebrates every aspect of the role that dogs play in our lives.

The competition consists of a variety of different events including that of agility, obedience, heelwork to music, and dog showing.

The competition to brought to stage by The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of dogs everywhere.

When and where will the competition take place?

The competition will take place at the NEC Arena, Birmingham. The competition will run over four days from the 10 - 13 March 2022.

How much are tickets?

Tickets are currently available from as low as £30.30. There may be some admin charges upon check out. Find out more here. 

What are the performance times?

Each of the four days will host a variety of different events.

The official timetable can be found here. However, this may be subject to change.

When is it broadcast on TV?

Live coverage of Crufts will be broadcast on Channel 4 and More 4.

Thursday 10 March

15.00-16.00 – Channel 418.30-20.00 More4 20.00-21.00 – Channel 4

Friday 11 March

15.00-16.00 – Channel 4 18.30-19.45 – More420.00-21.00 – Channel 4

Saturday 12 March

15.00-18.00 – Channel 419.00-21.00 – Channel 4

Sunday 13 March

15.00-17.30 – Channel 419.00-21.00 – Channel 4 Crufts 2022: Best In Show Live

Who won Crufts in 2021?

Unfortunately due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic the competition did not go ahead, so there was no winner.

The last crowned winner of Crusts was in 2020, in which the Wire Haired Dachshund, “Maisie” won Best in Show, alongside owner Kim McCalmont.

At the time of the cancellation last year, Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “We are very disappointed that we have had to cancel Crufts for the first time since 1954, in what would have been its 130th anniversary year, and it is a decision we have not taken lightly.”

How are the winners chosen?

The first best in show competition was in 1928, when Greyhound Primley Sceptre was crowned the first best in show champion. Since then, there have been 78 best in show winners.

The winners are selected by a pannel of expert judges.

The Best In Show winners receive a replica of the silver Keddall Memorial Trophy, named after long-running show manager Robert Keddall. A spokesperson from The Kennel Club confirmed the winner also recieves prize money, but said the award is more about the ‘prestige’.

Best in Show

Each breed goes through various stages at Crufts before having the chance to step into the ring for Best in Show. First of all, they will compete within their breed to win Best of Breed – these competitions will be taking place in rings all around the show. Judges are in the vast majority of cases specialists who have owned the breed. They will judge the dog from nose to tail on how well it meets the breed standard, including everything from its movement and general temperament and size, to the condition of a dog’s teeth and coat.

At the end of each judging day, those awarded Best of Breed will then go on to compete within their group, of which there are seven:

• Working (judged on Thursday 10^th March)
• Pastoral (judged on Thursday 10^th March)
• Terrier (judged on Friday 11^th March)
• Hound (judged on Friday 11^th March)
• Utility (judged on Saturday 12^th March)
• Toy (judged on Saturday 12^th March)
• Gundog (judged on Sunday 13^th March)

Once all groups have been judged, all seven group winners compete in the Best in Show ring, where the judge will choose a Best in Show winner, as well as a Reserve Best in Show winner.

Agility

Agility is an exciting and action-packed discipline, which will be taking place in the main arena at Crufts. There are a number of different competitions taking place, aimed at different sizes of dog and levels of ability: The Kennel Club agility championships, Kennel Club ‘British Open’, novice agility, team agility and many more.

It’s made up of various obstacles for dogs to run through, jump over and weave in and out of, whilst also running against the clock. The winner will be the dog that completes the course in the fastest time with the fewest faults, as determined by the judge.

Flyball

Flyball is an energetic and fast-paced relay race that consists of two teams, a Flyball box and a ball.

The aim is for each dog to clear the hurdles, trigger the flyball box to release and catch a ball, before returning with the ball.

Each team is trying to complete the sequence in the fastest time possible, with the fewest faults.

The Flyball team final will take place in the main arena on Sunday 13^th March.

Heelwork to Music

Heelwork to Music is a fun and musical twist on obedience training. Working with a choreographed routine, devised by the owner, the dog incorporates its obedience skills alongside a chosen piece of music.

Judges mark performances based on a number of different criteria including:

• Content and flow
• Accuracy and team performance
• Musical interpretation

Obedience

Obedience publicly showcases the training dogs and their owners have achieved through a series of obedience tests. These can include tests such as recall, heelwork, retrieve, sendaway among others.

The Obedience Championships will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday in the Obedience ring.

Obreedience

Similar to obedience, obreedience is a team event that showcases the obedience skills of each breed team through a series of fun exercises.

Rally

Rally involves teamwork with your dog to navigate through a course, set by a trainer, to complete each different exercises along the way.

Competitors start each round with a score of 200 and deductions are made by the judges for inaccuracies and mistakes.

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