The names of the dogs which will compete in the final of The Kennel Club Vulnerable British and Irish Breeds Final at Crufts 2025 have been announced.
The competition is the only one of its kind in the UK, raising awareness of Britain and Ireland’s vulnerable native dog breeds and recognising those breeders and owners dedicated to ensuring their continued survival. In 2024, 35 breeds fell into this category, having generated 300 or fewer puppy registrations in the UK in the previous year.
The competition has proved very popular and at Crufts 2024, two-year-old Irish Wolfhound (Brida Della Bassa Pavese), co-owned by Stefano Erea and Dr Francesca Agnoli from Milan, Italy, and handled by Ludovica Salamon, was chosen as the winner of the grand final, judged by Gavin Robertson.
The 2025 final at Crufts will be judged by Graham Hill who is approved to award Challenge Certificates to 47 breeds across four groups including all breeds in the Hound group. The finalists will parade at 17.50pm in the BP Pulse LIVE arena on Friday 7 March at the NEC in Birmingham. Pre-judging will take place in hall 1, ring 8 at 2pm.
In order to qualify for the final, a dog must have won Best of Breed at the group championship show designated by The Kennel Club as the breed’s qualifying show. In a small number of instances, the Best of Breed winner’s owner has advised that they are unable to compete in the final; in which case, the Best Opposite Sex in Breed winner has been invited to compete in their place to ensure that all breeds are represented and supported.
The following competitors qualifying for the final are listed below;
- Bull Terrier (Mini), Graymor Glacial Icecloud owned by Mr G A & Mrs M E Hughes
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Ch Danchester’s Can You Hear Me Roar For Bonnybeck (Imp Fin) owned by Miss L Sleight
- Fox Terrier (Smooth), Ch Kanix Quickstep owned by Mrs K S Wilberg
- Glen of Imaal Terrier, Romainville Rock It Ronnie owned by Mrs K A George
- Irish Terrier, Holbam Ace Of Saredon (A.I.) owned by Mr J Averis & Mrs D Ryan
- Kerry Blue Terrier, Ch Balboa Leonida owned by Mrs S Caltabiano
- Lakeland Terrier, Saredon Revere owned by Mr J Averis
- Manchester Terrier, Ch Talanors Typically Special owned by Mr C & Mrs G Knight
- Norwich Terrier, Ch Ragus Punch Bowl owned by Mrs L Crawley & Mrs Y Baldwin
- Sealyham Terrier, Ch Seabrook Spitting Image Of Forlegd owned by Messrs F Ahs & L Jaseph & K Crockett & A Daly & Ms O Forlicz
- Skye Terrier, Madaza Box Of Frogs owned by Mrs J Lyne
- Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Ch Silkcroft Never Miss A Beat owned by Mr C W & Mrs C L Satherley
- Bloodhound, Ch Moorlander Guy Laroche owned by Miss H Pennington
- Deerhound, Hyndsight Neaghley (A.I.) owned by Mrs L Spence
- Foxhound, Warrior Of Hampshire Hunt owned by Mr S Dunn
- Greyhound, It Esp Ch DK Ch UK SU Ch Int Ch Sobers Geraldine owned by Mrs B Ahrens & Mr P Primavera
- Harrier, Henissy Fancy owned by Miss C Farrar
- Irish Wolfhound, Ch Caredig Mafioso owned by Mrs D E Tebbutt
- Otterhound, Ch Conestoga And Crossroads English Dream At Otterslade (Imp USA) owned by Mrs V Finch
- English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Ch Ettology Bounteous Barney JW owned by Mr K Dennison
- King Charles Spaniel, Ch Monleon Made By Magic For Marchog owned by Mr R G & Mrs K M Stewart
- English Setter, Tattersett Golden Sunrise owned by Mrs H S Stewart & Professor S M Quenby
- Gordon Setter, Amscot Air Of Success At Boyers owned by Miss J Osborn
- Irish Red and White Setter, Sh Ch Charnborough Charisma Of Danwish JW owned by Miss T Gardner
- Retriever (Curly Coated), Sh Ch Foxriever Mystic Marvel At Elkysar owned by Mrs M & Mr K Solomon
- Spaniel (Clumber), Sh Ch Vanitonia Soloist owned by Mr L A S Cox
- Spaniel (Field), Sh Ch Nadavin Expectation Of Vraibleu owned by Mr G & Mrs E Hazell
- Spaniel (Irish Water), Sh Ch Fynder Reacher ShCEx owned by Ms L Latheron & Mr M Trenchard
- Spaniel (Sussex), Sh Ch Eald Dances With Wolves Among Nyliram JW ShCEx OSW owned by Mr T Graham
- Spaniel (Welsh Springer), Sh Ch Nyliram Telling Tales JW ShCEx OSW owned by Mr T Graham
- Mastiff , Cyberus Zavier owned by Mrs T & Mr S Andrews
- Bearded Collie, Clovabrae Villanelle owned by Mr G & Mrs C Stead
- Collie (Smooth), Ch Wynele Strike It Rich To Lewarne JW owned by Miss J Sewell
- Lancashire Heeler, Ch Ribblespride Crakemoor owned by Mrs E A & Mr J Thwaite
- Welsh Corgi (Cardigan), Ch Pi Et Ra Of Trefilio Borntobe Avalanche JW (Imp Hun) owned by Miss T J Irving
Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “The Kennel Club Vulnerable British and Irish Breeds Competition final always gains a lot of interest at Crufts. We hope that visitors will support the finalists either in pre-judging on Friday afternoon or in the main arena at 5.50pm as many of these lesser known breeds could be the perfect fit for certain owner’s lifestyles.
“I’d also urge visitors who may be interested in acquiring one of these breeds to also spend time in the Discover Dogs area of Crufts in hall 3 where the dogs can be met at close quarters. Meeting the breeders in this way is always a great way to find out if a breed is suitable for a family’s own lifestyle.”
For more information on the Vulnerable British and Irish Breeds, please visit our website.
The following breeds are eligible to compete: Bearded Collie, Bloodhound, Bull Terrier (Miniature), Collie (Smooth), Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Deerhound, English Setter, English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Foxhound, Fox Terrier (Smooth), Glen of Imaal Terrier, Gordon Setter, Greyhound, Harrier, Irish Red & White Setter, Irish Wolfhound, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, King Charles Spaniel, Lakeland Terrier, Lancashire Heeler, Manchester Terrier, Mastiff, Norwich Terrier, Otterhound, Retriever (Curly Coated), Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Spaniel (Clumber), Spaniel (Field), Spaniel (Irish Water), Spaniel (Sussex), Spaniel (Welsh Springer), Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)