10th March: First Crufts Dog Show

Crufts Dog Show has been in the news this week, and today is the anniversary of the first ever Crufts in 1886. 10 facts about Crufts:

1. The show is named after Charles Cruft, the general manager of a dog biscuit manufacturer. Part of his job was travelling to dog shows all over the country.
2. The first Crufts' show wasn't called Crufts at all, but "First Great Terrier Show". It wasn't billed as "Crufts" until 1891.
3. The "First Great Terrier Show" had 600 entries. Now, an average of 28,000 dogs take part in Crufts each year, making it the world's biggest dog show, recognised by Guinness World Records. Around 160,000 humans usually show up as well.
4. When Charles Cruft died in 1938, his widow continued running the show, until its snowballing success made it too much for her. She sold it to the Kennel Club, who still run it today.
5. Crufts has been held in a range of different venues including the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington and Earl's Court. It tended to outgrow venues. Since 1991 it is held in the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, which was the first venue to be outside London.
6. Crufts isn't an open competition. Dogs must have already won a top three place in their class at another Kennel Club dog show before they can enter Crufts.
7. The primary purpose of the event is to find the best dog in the show. First of all, dogs compete against others of the same breed, same gender and same age. Classes include Veteran, Special Puppy, Special Junior, Yearling, Post Graduate, Mid Limit, Limit, and Open. Each class gives an award for best dog and best bitch. The winners then compete against each other until the best of breed final which is a show down between the best dog and the best bitch. The winners advance to the group contest. There are seven Groups: Toys, Gundogs, Utility, Hounds, Working, Pastoral, and Terriers. The winners from each group form the final seven from which the best in show is chosen.
8. Best in Show winners receive a replica of the solid silver Keddall Memorial Trophy, and a small cash prize of £100.
9. As well as the dog beauty contest there are competitions for agility and obedience as well. The first obedience contest was held in 1955.
10. For people who don't have purebreed dogs, the Kennel Club run an alternative show, Scruffts, for mongrels.