CRUFTS is one of the biggest days in a dog-lover’s calendar and the hit competition has returned for 2025.
The pooch tournament will be held at Birmingham NEC for four days of fun. But what breeds of dog will be competing?
What are the Crufts 2025 categories?
Tens of thousands of dogs take part in Crufts every year and the 2024 edition of the competition was no exception.
Over 24,000 dogs took part in Crufts 2024.
Dogs first compete against others of the same breed and are split by gender, age and previous wins.
After the best of each breed is chosen, they compete against others in their category.
The competition is organised into seven different categories.
The categories include:
- Working
- Utility
- Toy
- Pastoral
- Terrier
- Hound
- Gundog
The seven group winners then receive the Best in Group title.
Then, the seven winners go head-to-head for the Best in Show trophy.
Winners receive a replica of the solid silver Kendall Memorial Trophy and a small cash prize of £200.
There’s also action in the Young Kennel Club Ring, obedience competitions, individual breed judging, dog activities and the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme.
When is each category judged?
Terriers and Hounds will be judged on March 6, 2025, which is the first day of the competition.
Utility and Toy dogs will be judged a day later, before the winners head on to the next round.
Gundogs will be judged on March 8, 2025, with Working and Pastoral dogs being judged on March 9.
Do Crufts allow mixed breeds?
Mixed breeds are not allowed to compete at Crufts as it is a competition targeted at pedigrees.
However, mixed breeds are allowed to compete at the sister competition Scruffts.
Scruffts is also managed by The Kennel Club and attracts hundreds of entries each year.
How to watch Crufts 2025
Crufts will be available to watch live on a range of platforms when it kicks off on March 6, 2025 at 3pm.
The competition will air an hour early on March 8 and 9, when it starts at 2pm.
Channel 4 will be broadcasting the events of the competition live and will provide extra Crufts content on More 4.
The competition will also be available to watch on the Crufts YouTube channel.
