There will be shaggy ones, rough ones, smooth ones, large ones, tiny ones, ridiculous looking ones and aloof ones and every owner will think theirs is a winner.
But only one can be on March 14th 2010 when the world famous Crufts comes to its glittering climax and the Best in Show is announced.
Whether the winner is a Mexican Crested which looks like a demented, half plucked chicken or an elegant Borzoi, the ultimate prize will ensure the animal has enough Pedigree Chum to last a lifetime, a large silver cup and rosettes to line the largest kennel. If the winner is a male dog he will surely die a happy canine for suitors will be queuing up across the globe for his favours. Who said it’s a dog’s life?
Crufts is named after its founder Charles Cruft. The young Charles leaving college in 1876 had no desire to join the family jewellery business. Instead he took employment with James Spratt who had set up a new venture in Holborn, London, selling “dog cakes”.
Charles Cruft was ambitious and a relatively short apprenticeship as an office boy led to promotion to travelling salesman. This brought him into contact with large estates and sporting kennels. His next career move with Spratts saw him travelling to Europe and here in 1878 French dog breeders, perhaps seeing entrepreneurial talents in Cruft, invited him to organise the promotion of the canine section of the Paris Exhibition. He was still just two years out of college.
Back in England in 1886 he took up the management of the Allied Terrier Club Show at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster.
The first Crufts show in that name was booked into the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington in 1891. This was the first in a long series of shows there. During this era it was possible for individuals to run shows for personal profit, an aspect that appealed mightily to Charles Cruft, and he ran his shows with considerable profit to himself. Today there are no privately owned dog shows and permission to hold shows is granted by the Kennel Club which licenses only non-commercial organisations.
Today the show is held at the NEC in Birmingham and from March 11th to 14th the vast building becomes home to dozens of breeds of dogs from all over the world.
I have rarely been without a dog in my life, two of them have been pedigree Lakeland Terriers and I suspect the first one could just have pipped a few in the winner’s ring. He went under the grand name of Atomstone Mac Softee, Rusty to me, and apart from his pedigree perfected the art of gently catching blackbirds in the bushes, never killing them but frightening the feathers off them in the process.
Then along came Brocolitia Glory’s Boy, Brock. Stubborn as a mule and twice as strong, but we dog lovers would not be without them would we? Our current friend is Lily, a cross breed with aspirations of being an interior designer. She’s made a start by stripping several pieces of wallpaper, but I’m having trouble teaching her to stick some more on.
In Third Age a dog is often a substitute for children who have married and left home and they are great companions and a good reason for exercise.
One section of Crufts this year will be a “Meet The Dogs” section where would-be owners can talk to knowledgeable owners and meet their dogs. The thrill and spectacle of Crufts makes many people desire to own a dog, so it makes good sense to choose the right breed for your circumstances.
I would like to see more of the good old breeds back in circulation. The cocky Wire Haired Fox Terrier, the Cocker Spaniel, the Kerry Blue Terrier and the lovely Irish Water Spaniel are much neglected. I also have a sneaking admiration for the Basenji. This medium sized smart dog does not bark but has a nice line in crooning at the top of its voice to get your attention!
And how nice it was to see a Sealyham Terrier carry off the 2009 award. A sturdy dog with great character and one of the most ignored of the terriers.
Who will be top dog this year? The field is wide open with all classes attracting quality entries.
It’s good to see that More 4 are televising the show after last year’s controversy, let’s hope it leads to more canine programmes. What price “Strictly Come Barking”, with Paul O’Grady compering?
Graham Smith for Third Age.
Written by Editor.
