Crufts 2025 Birmingham: Crufts 2025 sets new record for global entries with retrievers in the spotlight

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Crufts sees record proportion of international entries, reversing a post-Brexit fall

Crufts, taking place next month at the NEC Birmingham, will see over 24,000 dogs from 51 different countries compete in hundreds of competitions, displays and demonstrations, over four days.

Hailed as the world’s greatest celebration of man’s best friend, the 2025 event will follow more than 200 breeds on the journey to the famous Best in Show finale, with the trophy awarded live on Channel 4 on the evening of Sunday 9 March.

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Leading the pack with the most entries for this year’s show is the great family favourite, the Golden Retriever, with 509 dogs hoping to be crowned top dog. This is just ahead of the Labrador (485) and the Cocker Spaniel (418).

In contrast, the Foxhound and the Sloughi each have just six dogs vying for the Best in Show title, while there is only one Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) and one Turkish Kangal Dog entered, highlighting that the show is a true celebration of all dogs, from the well-known to the rare.

Crufts has also announced its 2025 event will welcome a record proportion of international canine competitors, reversing a post-Brexit fall. Almost 4,000 dogs from overseas will be in contention for Best in Show, meaning over a fifth of ‘top dogs’ who’ve qualified for the prestigious event are from outside of the UK.

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Crufts, whilst a British institution, is a truly international event. The debut of an increased number of international dogs on the Crufts stage in 2002 – when the ‘pet passport scheme’ was first introduced – could not have been more spectacular, as a Standard Poodle from Norway, Nordic Champion Topscore Contradiction, went all the way to Best in Show, and was the first overseas dog to win the title. There have been another six Best in Show winners from abroad since – including from Canada, Belgium, Croatia and the US.

In total, four-legged representatives from 51 countries will be taking part in the world’s greatest dog event this year, from Canada to Croatia. France leads the way with 475 dogs in the running for the Crufts top title, just ahead of Germany (407), the Netherlands (376) and Italy (360).

Last year’s Best in Show winner was Viking, the three-year-old Australia Shepherd, who is owned by the UK’s John Shaw, Kerry Kirtley and Melanie Raymond, who said the win at Crufts was “a dream”.

Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club which organises Crufts, said: “Crufts is an iconic British event, with a truly international feel.

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“We look forward to bringing dogs, owners and visitors from all over the globe together at the show, where they will be treated to another fantastic celebration of our unique bond with man’s best friend.”

As well as the individual breed classes which lead to Best in Show, visitors can watch some of the world’s fastest and smartest dogs in action with agility and obedience championships, and enjoy unique canine relay in the flyball competitions. Elsewhere, The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award celebrates five special dogs who provide lifetime service to society, and support, love and devotion to owners, and the final of the nation’s favourite crossbreed competition, Scruffts, will take place. Meanwhile the Discover Dogs area showcases hundreds of different breeds – from the Australian Terrier to the Irish Red and White Setter – for would-be owners to meet close-up and find out more about from experts.

This year also marks 75 years of Crufts being televised and Channel 4 and More4 will broadcast 19 hours from the event next month. With Clare Balding at the helm once again, the channels will broadcast all the action from the show, leading up to the grand finale, Best in Show on Sunday.

Crufts takes place from 6 – 9 March with over 24,000 dogs from 51 countries. Tickets are available at crufts.org.uk.

Details of TV coverage and live streaming from the event can be found at crufts.org.uk/show-information/how-to-watch-crufts/.

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