As another year of Crufts comes to a close, the dogs have shown their enthusiasm for the revered event not only as competitors, but also as spectators.
Owners have taken to social media to share sweet photos of their dogs enjoying the prestigious dog show.
Reactions ranged from hyperfocus and animation to lazy immersion in the events.
“Buzz is relaxing in the afternoon watching Crufts.” @emilywhitts he said on X, formerly known as Twitter, while sharing a photo of a sleepy-looking Beagle on the couch.
Elsewhere, @georgelolaboxer shared a sweet snap of George, an 11-year-old boxer looking very alert as they tuned into Channel 4’s coverage of the event.
Owners have taken to social media to share sweet photos of their dogs enjoying the prestigious dog show. Pictured, Hertford maple
Ben Crystal (@BenCrystall), from Hertford, took a photo of her Terrier Maple attentive and attentive to the show.
‘Maple has her favorite chew ready for the #terrier trial and the #bestinshow! #Crufts2024 @Crufts,’ she wrote. “And lots of barking to encourage the #flyballers.”
Meanwhile @K9Reggie took a clip of the first time his chihuahua Rupert saw Crufts and said it’s clear he “wants to be there.”
More than 19,000 dogs from around the world came to the NEC in Birmingham this week, along with their owners, to compete in the competition.
The competition, which has been running since 1981, is currently organized by The Kennel Club and attracts over 160,000 spectators a year.
An Australian Shepherd named Viking was crowned best in show at Crufts 2024 last week.
Three-year-old Viking, from Solihull, Birmingham, beat 24,000 dogs from around the world over the past four days to claim the show’s top honor on Sunday.
Viking, co-owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley, was the pastoral group winner at the start of the show.
Elsewhere, @georgelolaboxer shared a sweet photo of George, an 11-year-old boxer looking very alert as they tuned into Channel 4’s coverage of the event.
Buzz the Beagle seemed very relaxed while tuning into a broadcast of the prestigious dog show this week.
Meanwhile, @K9Reggie took a clip of the first time his chihuahua Rupert saw Crufts and said it’s clear he “wants to be there.”
Ms Raymond, a third-generation dog breeder who lives just three miles from the showground, said: “We all dream of winning the top prize at Crufts.”
When asked if he lived up to expectations, she said: “He actually did, I should never doubt him because he always gives me his all and you walk in and say, ‘yeah, come on, let’s do this.’
“So he loves every minute of it.”
According to dog training and welfare body The Kennel Club, the breed was developed in the United States as a herding dog for working on ranches and is “very successful in shows” due to its “attractive colors and athletic movements.”
A nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Zen, from Japan, who previously won the terrier group, was named reserve dog.
An Australian Shepherd called Viking has been crowned best in show at the 2024 Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham.
A nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Zen, from Japan, who previously won the terrier group, was named reserve dog.
Viking succeeds hunting dog Orca, who became the first Lagotto Romagnolo to win the award at last year’s event. The four-year-old was driven 25 hours across Europe from Rijeka in western Croatia to the world’s most famous dog show.
Among the 220 breeds represented at the exhibition was an Afghan hound that was being groomed before being judged by a similar owner.
But it wasn’t just the dogs that clashed at the National Exhibition Center (NEC) in Birmingham.
Singer-songwriters Chris Amoo and Sting’s dogs faced off today. Creena Atticus Finch, wife of Sting police leader Trudie Styler, in Dukesarum, was one of nine Irish wolfhounds the couple entered into the show. She but she finished second to The Real Thing Amoo singer Sade Melchior in the Irish Wolfhound Limit Dog class.
Amoo, 71, was a finalist last year with crowd favorite Paris, another Irish wolfhound.
The 70-year-old won Best in Show with an Afghan hound in 1987.
An Afghan hound is groomed before being judged on the final day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, central England, on March 10, 2024.