A short history of Crufts...
 Crufts
is one of the largest dog events in the world. No longer purely a dog show, dfs Crufts
celebrates every aspect of the role that dogs play in our lives. It has changed in ways that
couldn’t possibly have been imagined when the show was set up in Victorian times by the late
Charles Cruft. Although it was a very different event in 1891 Charles Cruft was a great showman
and would surely have enjoyed the size and scope of the event today, which is an essential date
in any dog lover’s calendar. Look out for the milestone agility dates in
red.
The dog show is
still an important part of the event, celebrating the unique relationship that dogs share with
their owners. Judges are trained to ensure that only healthy dogs win prizes, which in turn
encourages the breeding of healthy dogs. But the event is now about so much more besides.
dfs Crufts is
ultimately a celebration of all dogs. It celebrates working dogs, which are fit and healthy
enough to perform the jobs for which they were originally bred, such as those in the Gamekeeper
classes or which line up for the Police Dog Team Operational and
Humanitarian Action of the Year award, and it hails hero dogs through the Friends for
Life competition. Rescue dogs are celebrated in the rescue dog agility competition and the
speed and agility of dogs is celebrated in the ever popular competitions of Flyball and
Heelwork to Music.
For prospective
dog owners and dog lovers, dfs Crufts is a prime opportunity to talk to Kennel Club Accredited
Breeders, rescue charities and breed experts about how to responsibly buy, train and enjoy life
with your dog.
And of course, with hundreds of trade stands selling anything and everything for dogs and dog
lovers, it is a shopping extravaganza!
How it all started
Crufts is named
after its founder Charles Cruft. The young Charles left college in 1876 with no desire to join
the family jewellery business. Instead he took employment with James Spratt who had set up a
new venture in Holborn, London selling 'dog cakes'.
Charles Cruft
was ambitious and a relatively short apprenticeship as an office boy led to promotion to
travelling salesman. This brought him into contact with large estates and sporting kennels. His
next career move with Spratts saw him travelling to Europe and here in 1878, French dog
breeders, perhaps seeing entrepreneurial talents in Cruft, invited him to organise the
promotion of the canine section of the Paris Exhibition. He was still just two years out of
college.
Back in England
in 1886 he took up the management of the Allied Terrier Club Show at the Royal Aquarium,
Westminster. It was in 1891 that the first Cruft's show was booked into the Royal Agricultural
Hall in Islington and it has evolved and grown ever since.
Timeline
 1891
– The first Cruft’s show in that name takes place at the
Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington with 2,437 entries and 36 breeds.
1918–1920
– Cruft’s is not held due to the World War I.
1932
– First
female owner of Best in Show, Lorna Countess Howe with Labrador Retriever, Bramshaw
Bob.
1936
– Charles Cruft celebrates his
Golden Jubilee five years early, breaking the 10,000 entries mark
for the first time.
1938
– Charles Cruft dies. His widow, Emma Cruft takes over the
running of the show.
1940-7
–Cruft’s is not held due
to World War II.
1948
– The first Cruft’s Show under Kennel Club auspices takes
place after Emma Cruft gives over control. Held at Olympia, it proves an immediate success with
both exhibitors and the public, with eighty-four breeds entered, almost double the number of
breeds at the first Cruft's in 1891. Since then Crufts has increased in stature year by year,
now attracting around 200 breeds annually.
1950
–Cruft's first televised by the
BBC.
1952
– The
death of King George VI on 6February threatens the possibility of the cancellation
of Cruft’s for that year but the show is allowed to take place two days later.
1954
– Electricians strike action leads to the show being
cancelled, as electricians refuse to disconnect the stands from the previous show held at
Olympia, and the venue can therefore not be cleared to make way for the Cruft’s.
1955
– Cruft’s becomes an Obedience Championship Show. Working
Sheepdogs are entered, becoming the first crossbreeds to
compete at Cruft’s. Crossbreed dogs are now a central part of the show, taking part in a wide
range of competitions including agility.
1961
– Entries break the 15,000 mark
for the first time
1972
– During the Winter of Discontent, Crufts 1972 takes place
under subdued lighting and with an abbreviated catalogue due to the 3 day working week which
had been enforced. As one commentator says: “For two days every visitor was able to forget the
troubles of the world.”
1974
– Cruft’s changes to Crufts. During a rebrand as it is
decided that the apostrophe is no longer needed.
1979
– The show moves to Earls Court as the increasing number of
entries had the show outgrowing its former venue at Olympia.
1980
– First official Agility competition at Crufts - with the move comes a new atmosphere at the
event.
1982
–The show is extended to three days to accommodate the
increasing numbers of dogs and spectators.
1985
– The Kennel Club Junior Organisation is launched. Now the
Young Kennel Club (YKC). Its competitions form an important part of the current dfs Crufts
show.
1987
– The show is extended to four days to accommodate further
increases in the number of dogs and spectators.
1988
– More than 110,000 people come through the doors making Crufts not only the
biggest Dog Show, but also the most popular show to be held
at Earls Court.
1990
–
Flyball first demonstrated.
1991
– Crufts Centenary Show is held at its new venue, the
Birmingham National Exhibition Centre - the first time the show had moved from London.
1992
–
Mary Ray demonstrates her fast moving Heelwork to Music
routine. She is now a regular performer at the event.
1994
–
Discover Dogs area is introduced to Crufts as part of the Kennel Club’s commitment
to encouraging responsible dog ownership, enabling dog loving visitors at the show to find out
more about the different breeds and how they may fit into their lifestyle.
Good Citizen Dog Scheme Ring introduced to Crufts, enabling
dogs to demonstrate their pet obedience credentials, and owners their responsible attitude to
dog ownership, through obtaining a range of certificates from bronze to gold.
2000
– Rescue Dog Agility introduced to the show, enabling
rescue dogs to shine in the fun and fast paced demonstration.
2001
– Crufts moved from March to May due to Foot and Mouth disease. The International Agility
Competition takes place at Crufts for the first time.
 2004
– The popular competition Friends for Life Competition
first appeared, then called Hero Dogs. The popular annual competition ensures that man's best
friend gets the recognition he deserves for bravery, support and companionship.
Southern Golden Retriever Display Team appears at Crufts
for the first time and this has been part of the event every year since.
2007
– As the event continues to
grow, the Arena is used for the first time, for
competitions including Agility, Friends for Life and Best in Show.
2008
– Crufts develops its own Facebook page, now with more than
34,000 fans. Cani cross, canine cross country, is
introduced to Crufts for the first time as people look for ever more ways to get fit with their
dogs.
2009
– Crufts streamed online for the first time and became the
most watched channel on You Tube in the UK. The Health Zone
is introduced, with breed and scientific experts providing information and advice about breed
health and scientific advances. Judges are given the power to remove
unhealthy dogs from the show ring and show monitors may report dogs that they fear
are unhealthy to the show vet, who can order their exclusion from competition.
Breed rescue charities, the unsung heroes of the dog world
are given a high profile area, so that the public could find out more about their work. They
are supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
2010
– dfs becomes the principal sponsor and the event is
renamed dfs Crufts. More 4 becomes broadcast partner,
providing one hour of footage a night and two hours on Sunday.
2011
– The Health Zone is renamed Breeding for the Future which,
run in conjunction with the Animal Health Trust, includes information about the latest work
that the Kennel Club and the Animal Health Trust are conducting to improve breed health.
Get Fit With Fido 2011 launched in partnership with
Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs - the campaign aims to help dog owners to find new and
interesting ways to keep themselves and their dogs fit and healthy.
Display of Bull Breeds from Wood Green Animal Shelter in the Good Citizen Dog
Training Scheme Ring to highlight the plight of these dogs, often bought as status symbols and
then abandoned. More4 named as broadcast partner for 2011.
2012
– As an additional safety net to complement the 2009 vet checks, it is announced that Best of
Breed winners and champions in the 15 high profile breeds, which may have a tendency to suffer
from health problems due to exaggerated features, will need to be vet
checked before their awards are confirmed from Crufts 2012 onwards.
Source: The Kennel Club
First published 9 March 2011
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