As entries of the show remain buoyant
Crufts 2025 is set to welcome over 24,000 dogs at the NEC Birmingham from 6-9 March showcasing a wide variety of competitions and displays. The entry this year is over 18,500 dogs participating in breed, agility and obedience championship competitions over the four days of the event.
Over 200 pedigree breeds will compete for the prestigious Best in Show title, which will be awarded live on Channel 4 on the evening of Sunday 9 March in the BP Pulse LIVE arena. This year there will be more TV coverage than ever before, with 19 hours of Crufts action broadcast across Channel 4 and More4.
Crufts continues to maintain its international flavour and this year has attracted more overseas entries than ever before – 3,952 dogs – with France leading the way with 475 dogs, just ahead of Germany (407), Netherlands (376) and Italy (360). Other countries to attract entries of 150 dogs or more are: Ireland (327), Poland (259), Belgium (213), Spain (174), Czech Republic (218) and Sweden (168).
For the first time, the Polish Hunting Dog will feature in the Discover Dogs area of the show as a newly recognised Kennel Club breed. The Golden Retriever has the largest entry for an individual breed with 509 dogs making 619 entries, an increase of over 80 from last year. The Labrador Retriever follows closely with 485 dogs making 586 entries.
The highest number of dogs in a single breed set to compete in each group are:
- Terrier: Staffordshire Bull Terrier – 338
- Hound: Whippet – 376
- Utility: Dalmatian – 260
- Toy: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – 290
- Gundog: Golden Retriever – 509
- Working: Bernese Mountain Dog – 159
- Pastoral: Border Collie – 300
Additionally, the following breeds have dogs exceeding 250; Cocker Spaniel (418), Flat Coated Retriever (309), Irish Setter (266) and Shetland Sheepdog (257).
Celebrating 75 years of being televised, Channel 4 and More 4 will broadcast over 19 hours* of the event across the show’s four days; the details of times and channels are as follows:
THURSDAY 6 MARCH:
1500-1600 – Channel 4
1830-1930 – More4
1930-2100 – Channel 4
FRIDAY 7 MARCH:
1500-1600 – Channel 4
1830-1930 - More4
1930-2100 – Channel 4
SATURDAY 8 MARCH:
1400-1800 – Channel 4
1830-2100 – Channel 4
SUNDAY 9 MARCH:
1400-1800 – Channel 4
1900-2100 - Channel 4 Crufts 2025: Best in Show live.
(*Please note, times subject to change)
In addition to breed class judging, visitors can enjoy watching some of the world’s finest dogs and handlers in action across a range of disciplines including agility, obedience, heelwork to music, flyball and the popular hoopers display, returning for its second year.
The Obedience Championships for bitches will be held on Saturday, with dogs competing on Sunday. In Agility, the Intermediate and Large Championships take place on Thursday while the Small and Medium Championships are on the Sunday.
Other highlights in the BP Pulse LIVE arena include The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award, celebrating dogs that provide lifetime service, support, love and devotion, and the final of the nation’s favourite crossbreed competition, Scruffts.
Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “We are delighted that the show continues to draw a large overseas entry, proving its worldwide appeal.
“Crufts would not be Crufts without our exhibitors. We thank everybody who has entered the show and look forward to welcoming all dogs and their owners who make Crufts such a wonderful event, whether it is those who have been loyally returning year after year, or those who are experiencing the show for the first time.
“Crufts offers something for everyone and the show is set to be a wonderful showcase of our much loved dogs, exciting canine activities and our fantastic and committed community.”
Click here to view a full list of entries in each breed.
For daily and Best in Show tickets, visit the Crufts website.
For details of TV coverage and live streaming from the show visit the how to watch Crufts page.