Why is Crufts Called Crufts?

Each year, Mantrailing Global is thrilled to be a part of Crufts, where we get to share our love for Mantrailing at the world’s largest dog show!

But have you ever wondered what Crufts is and how it got its name? Here’s a little history for you:

Crufts is an internationally renowned canine event held annually in the UK. While it's best known for its championship dog show, Crufts also features a vast trade show filled with dog-related goods and services, as well as competitions in dog agility, obedience, flyball, and heelwork to music. The event, hosted by the Kennel Club, spans four days—Thursday to Sunday—in early March at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. As the largest dog show in the world, it holds the title from Guinness World Records. The competition at Crufts is fierce, with the coveted Best in Show award attracting top dogs and their owners from around the world.

Crufts is named after its founder, Charles Cruft, who worked as the general manager for a dog biscuit manufacturer. His travels to dog shows worldwide helped him recognize the need for higher standards in dog events. In 1886, he hosted his first dog show, the "First Great Terrier Show," which had 57 classes and 600 entries. The first event officially named "Crufts"—the "Cruft's Greatest Dog Show"—took place in 1891 at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington. It was the first time all dog breeds were invited to compete, with nearly 2,500 entries.

By the end of the 19th century, the show had grown to over 3,000 entries, attracting royal patronage from various European countries and Russia. After a hiatus during World War I, the event resumed in 1928, introducing the Best in Show class, which was awarded to a Greyhound named Primley Sceptre. The show continued to grow in popularity, even after Charles’ death in 1938, and was sold to The Kennel Club in 1942 to ensure its future.

Crufts faced interruptions during the Second World War but resumed in 1948, growing in prominence each year. In 1950, the BBC began televising the event. Over the decades, new competitions like obedience (1955), agility (1980), and flyball (1990) were introduced. By 1991, Crufts was officially recognized as the world’s largest dog show, with nearly 23,000 dogs participating in conformation classes that year.

Today, Crufts sees around 28,000 dogs and 160,000 human visitors each year, with an exciting array of events, competitions, and displays to enjoy.

(Credit: Wikipedia)