11 Breed Notes – Crufts 2025

At Crufts this year we were again down in Hall 1, ring one and first in the ring with a later start of 10.00am on Friday. Our judge was Melanie Reed- Peck (Byquy) who had drawn what must be one of the lowest ever Keeshond entries for this show; just 40 Keesies with 6 absentees, of which surprisingly 4 were dogs. There were only 5 dogs entered from abroad this year, with exhibits coming from Switzerland, Holland, France and the USA. There were no entries in either of the Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog classes or Junior Bitch and judging was over by 12.30pm.

Show entries have never really recovered since lockdown; but at £38 entry fee per dog going up to £40, £10 for a catalogue and £14 prepaid or £19 on the day for car parking, it soon adds up. An exhibitor could end up paying almost £70 to show just one dog and that’s not taking into account travel costs etc and for many, taking a day off work. And people wonder why entries are so low?

Although there were a few familiar faces around the ring, there were quite a few empty seats ringside. As our ring was again right next to the food areas in the corner of the hall, the empty seats were quickly taken up by members of the public to sit & eat their food, which must have been a distraction for some of the dogs.

What was very noticeable sitting ringside, and not for the first time either, was the number of dogs who weren’t happy having their mouths looked at, with some objecting quite strongly. Younger, less experienced dogs maybe unsettled by all the noise etc in the big green ring could be excused; but not the adults. If a dog doesn’t like having his mouth looked at by a stranger, then it is perfectly acceptable for the handler to do it instead.

The Dog CC with Best of Breed went to Gill Brunt’s Ch Divnyi Drug Dar (imp Russ) (Russ Ch Cinerus Artic Prince of Star x Russ Ch Divnyi Drug Gusja Lebed) It was worth the long wait for Gill as she got short listed in the group (judged by Ann Ingram) with Darik. The RDCC went to the second in Open, Knoll & Johnston’s Am Can Ch Merrythought Ups Its Ante With An Ace (Am Ch Keeshee’s Lock Stock N Barrel x Am Ch Wild Heart’s Over The Moon to Merrythought) from the US.

The BCC also came from the Open class, Mark Redler & David Wheatley’s Ch Keitakees You Are My World (Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek x Byquy Kinky Boots at Keitakees) as did the RBCC, Zbinden-Herrmann’s Multi Ch Cecilia Nata Per Ispirare The Faithful Silver Wolf (Multi Ch Repeta’s Easy Rider to La Ginevrina x Multi Ch Amazing Aurora Little Charming Girl The Faithful Silver Wolf) handled by Gabriele Stafuzza; the same chap who then went on to win Reserve Best in Show with the Tibetan Mastiff.

Best Puppy was Val Tew’s Bargeway Crystal Clear (Torrikees Purple Rein x Ch Art Pride Bomb Explosive Beauty (Imp Rus)) and Best Veteran was Carol Bardsley’s Ch Skathki Emerald City (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (Imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Ruby Slipper for Skathki)

Anji Marfleet