Crufts 2025 confirmed for NEC and these are the three most popular dogs entered

Viking, the Australian Shepherd who won Crufts Best in Show 2024
-Credit:The Kennel Club


Crufts has confirmed it will be wagging its way to the NEC Birmingham for 2025, and three dog breeds have already proved most popular. Over four days, more than 24,000 dogs from 51 countries will take part in hundreds of competitions, displays, and demonstrations.

The event will follow more than 200 breeds on their journey to the iconic Best in Show finale, with the trophy awarded on Sunday, March 9. Three breeds have emerged as those with the most entries this year.

Leading the pack with the most entries for the Crufts 2025 show is 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).

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In contrast, the Foxhound and the Sloughi each have just six dogs vying for the Best in Show title, while only one Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) and one Turkish Kangal Dog have been entered, highlighting the huge range 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 the top dogs who have qualified for the prestigious event are from outside of the UK.

The debut of an increased number of international dogs on the Crufts stage in 2002 – when the pet passport scheme was first introduced – proved 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.

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Among the 51 countries included in the event this year, 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 Australian 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 the event, said: "Crufts is an iconic British event, with a truly international feel. 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."

Visitors will also be able to watch some of the world's fastest and smartest dogs in action with agility and obedience championships, and enjoy canine relay in the flyball competitions. 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 crossbreed contest Scruffts will be held. Meanwhile, the Discover Dogs area showcases hundreds of different breeds 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

Crufts takes place from March 6 to 9. Tickets are on sale at the official Crufts website.