CRUFTS WEEK!

The time is now, the week is here. Crufts is turning 125!

By now, competitors across the globe will be carrying out their final preparations: heelwork to music routines are being practised, obedience skills are being perfected and there's a lot of coat grooming to be done. 

As for us members of the general public, we simply have to empty the cupboards to make sure that there's enough space for future Crufts purchases, writing lists of the things we want to fill those cupboards with and planning what we want to see and do, when we're not relentlessly shopping.

There are HUGE amounts of displays, competitions and talks to be watched; so much, in fact, that things can get a little overwhelming. 

But, don't fret: 

I introduce my day-by-day breakdown of what I think you simply MUST see when you come to the NEC this week...!

Thursday 10th March: Toy & Utility Day

• 11:05- East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Display Team- despite so many campaigns to end the stereotype, Staffies are a breed that continue to get a bad portrayal in the media. This display team show exactly why their image is so, so wrong. Such a happy sight to see.
• 12:15- Freestyle Heelwork to Music competition- never does heelwork to music disappoint. Freestyle has more options for the competitors, which means some very creative ideas come through. Some of the most talented dogs performing effortlessly to music- amazing!
• 17:15- Young Kennel Club Agility Dog of the Year- across the weekend, the next generation of dog experts compete in the YKC Ring at Crufts, which I highly recommend giving a visit. However, for one of the YKC's biggest competitions, the agility finalists take to the Main Arena to give it their all. 

Friday 11th March: Gundog Day

• 13:40- Rescue Dog Agility- what I love about Crufts is that it is an opportunity for all dogs to get their moment under the limelight. Rescue dogs are often unfairly considered as "difficult" dogs but this competition shows how far from the truth this is.
• 15:10- Agility- Large Novice and Medium ABC Final- Collies are known to be the most common breed to partake in agility so the Anything But Collies competitions give other breeds the opportunity to take centre stage. Who knows, the whole competition might be made up of Springers and just imagine how great that would be...!
• 17:55- Gundog Display (Philippa Williams)- well, if you're visiting on Gundog Day at Crufts, you simply have to see Gundogs doing what they do best- sniffing and fetching! Even I, as a very, very intelligent English Springer Spaniel, has to admit that what these Gundogs do is pretty impressive!

Saturday 12th March: Working & Pastoral Day

• 12:10- Dog Activities Display- always an insightful viewing, this display gives short examples of the sort of activities you could get involved in with your dog, from heelwork to music to obedience. 
• 13:00- Heelwork to Music- Freestyle International Competition: as mentioned in the previous post, this competition involves the very best of freestyle doggie dancers from the around the world, with one dog-and-human duo representing the countries involved. The diverse celebration of cultures through dancing dogs is just exceptional so I definitely recommend!
• 16:40- Southern Golden Retriever Display Team- well, if I hadn't made this clear enough already, this group is my ultimate MUST-SEE across the four days. They have displays on other days as well so don't worry if you're not heading to the NEC on Saturday!

Sunday 13th March: Terrier & Hound and Best in Show Day

• 12:20- Flyball Team Finals- thoroughly entertaining, the loudest of all dog sports has its finals on the last day of Crufts, so don't miss out on seeing who is crowned the winning flyball team from across the weekend!
• 12:40- West Midlands Police Dog Display- before watching this display, I had never witnessed the full extent of what is involved in the hound side of policing but the West Midlands team changed this. 
•  From 15:30, only Best in Show ticket holders are permitted to entry the Main Arena so bear this in mind when purchasing tickets to the show. For the lucky ticket holders, at 17:45, the one and only Mary Ray performs what promises to be a magnificent heelwork to music routine and then at 20:30 the biggest competition of the week comes to a close with the Best in Show final! Come on you Spaniels!

Full itineraries for the four days can be found here.

Of course, these are just a few of the hundreds of competitions going on at the NEC on 10-13th March and there is undoubtedly something for everyone at Crufts. Not only are there the shows in the Main Arena but there are many other rings for you to explore, as well as over four hundred stands so that you can shop for your pooches.

I hope everyone, including the competition winners Vaughan and Andrea, has a brilliant time at the show and I can't wait to see all your pictures!

Happy 125th Birthday, Crufts!

Talk soon, Jasper x

For more information on Crufts dog show, visit http://www.crufts.org.uk

To buy tickets to the show, click here or tickets can be bought on the door. Remember, under 12s get in free!