Crufts is the worlds biggest dog show and is the pinnacle of shows held in the UK. It takes over halls 1-5 and the arena of the NEC Birmingham and uses all car parks!
To get to enter Crufts you have to qualify by gaining a 1st – 3rd place in selected classes at shows throughout the year, or some other awards at other shows thought out the year. Full details are on the Crufts website.
The event takes place over four days in March, normally over the second weekend of the month, Thursday to Sunday. This year it is the 6th-9th 2014. The groups are rotated which means that groups move days each year, so your breed will not always be on the same day every year.
Tens of thousands of dogs will be at Crufts for the conformation breed classes, all the other competition dogs (agility, flyball, obedience etc), service dogs, demonstration dogs and those manning the breed booths within discover dogs! Then you have all the trade stands selling everything you need for your dog.
The culmination of Crufts is Best In Show on the Sunday night. You will need to buy separate tickets to be admitted to the main ring on Sunday for the groups and Best in Show.
Only exhibiting dogs, or those invited by the Kennel Club are allowed to enter the show, so you cannot take any other dogs.
Puppies must be 8 months old by the first day of the show (6th March 2014) to be allowed to take part. Age classes are “specials” so read the definition of the class. For example, Special puppy is for puppies aged 8 to 14 months (rather then the normal 6 to 12 months).
For 2014, paper entries close on 6th January 2014 and online entries close online on the 20th January 2014. When you do your entries you will have a section which asks which show you qualified at, date/place so have that to hand. The catalogue you buy will apply to the groups scheduled for that day only.
Don’t forget, Crufts is a benched show like most general shows, so take your normal benching chain / cage. Benches are arranged in alphabetical order of the owners surname and your dog is allocated a numbered space. Your bench is generally right next to your ring.
Before the show, you can find out what hall you are in and it is worth looking at the layout before hand so you know which hall and car park you want.
At the show it can be very busy around the ringside with spectators so watch carefully and make your way to the ring entrance in time for your class.
On your bench you will find two numbers. One is your bench number and the other is the one you wear in the ring.
When you arrive, it is worth finding the dog exercise areas. There are a number a of indoor and outdoor exercise areas for you to use in each hall.
The car park will cost £10 for the day. For this lovely sum, you will get a long walking to the halls. South and East car parks have shuttle buses running all day to save you having to walk!
Due to dogs not being able to leave until 4pm, it is a very long day for dogs and humans. There is a mass exodus at 4pm as it takes a long time to clear the car park. It might be worth waiting for an hour or so and then leave.
Most of all, remember to enjoy your day and as always, you take the best dog(s) home!