Your Dog 202003

24 Your Dog March 2020

And there’s no better place to do it than

at Crufts 2020. Julie Hill reports.

celebrate

Let’s

DOGS!

Each day at Crufts is

devoted to diff erent breed

groups — don’t miss your

favourite breed!

TOP TIP!

ABOUT JULIE

Julie Hill has hosted

DogCast Radio,

written, and broadcast

about dogs for over

10 years. She lives

in rural Shropshire

with her family

— both two- and

four-legged.

I

t’s diffi cult to defi ne Crufts — it’s so many

things to so many people.

Of course, it’s the most prestigious dog

show in the world, attracting over 27,000

dogs and around 160,00 people, but it’s

developed into so much more.

The fi rst Crufts was in 1891, when Queen

Victoria’s dogs won prizes. This year’s show

is held at the NEC in Birmingham on March

5 – 8. Two new breeds will be making

their Crufts debut — the Barbet, an

ancient French breed, and the

Harrier, a native hound.

If there’s a specifi c breed you want to

see, make sure you go on the correct day.

Diff erent groups compete on diff erent

days: Utility and Toy on Thursday, March 5;

Gundogs on Friday, March 6; Working and

Pastoral on Saturday, March 7; and Terriers

and Hounds on Sunday, March 8. However,

if there’s a particular breed you want to fi nd

out more about, or even meet, you can go

to the Discover Dogs section of the show

where 200 breeds — and breed experts

— await you.

Crufts is not the exclusive preserve of

pure-bred dogs; Scruff ts is a competition

that celebrates cross-breeds in all their

varieties. Any breed or mix can compete

in the sports competitions, which include

heelwork to music, fl yball, agility, and

obedience. Sitting down to watch

a competition can not only be fascinating,

but also a welcome relief to the feet after

all that walking.

There are also many informative displays

and demonstrations on off er, where you

can learn more about the vital role our

police dogs play, how children can stay

safe around dogs, and how assistance

dogs make everyday life easier for those

with disabilities. Assistance dogs feature

prominently at Crufts, with many charities

taking the opportunity to promote their

amazing talents.

On the subject of amazing dogs, the

Friends for Life competition showcases

dogs who have changed, dramatically

enhanced, or even saved, lives. From

Have a hanky handy

for the moving

Friends for Life award.

TOP TIP!

Enjoy some great

sporting moments.

The Southern Golden

Retriever display team.

The RAF display.

Image: Yulia Titovets and the Kennel Club.

Images: BeatMedia and the Kennel Club.