17/03/2026
I am really pleased that Bruin the Clumber Spaniel won Crufts, I am also delighted Dublin the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel took the Toy Group and that Holly won overall for the German Shepherds. I also love that VIP Walkies posted a comparison of the winning show labrador and working labrador highlighting the chasm between a show dog supposedly fit for function, and one that actually is.
I am pleased because all these mean that pedigree dog health and breeding is being widely discussed on both social and national media and bringing something that, while a huge topic of debate in the veterinary and canine world, doesn’t often break out of that bubble and into the public's consciousness.
In fact, this is one of the reasons why I think Crufts is a very good thing and I am a supporter of the show. It shines an annual spotlight on a world that otherwise would continue more or less unchecked, and certainly would be subject to far less outside pressure.
Bruin 's eyes are the ‘breed standard’ but that standard leaves Clumber Spaniels vulnerable to painful eye conditions. He would fail on that point on the Innate Health Assessment, which is why this tool is so important and so useful.
After Dublin’s win, it came to light that despite only being 4 years old, he has already sired over 40 litters, starting at just 10 months old. This is despite the recommendation that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not bred until they over 2 and a half years old and they have been confirmed as free from the cardiac issues that the breed is plagued with. Dublin had a heart test done when he was just under two, and he already had a Grade One Mitral Valve Prolapse at that age. He also doesn’t appear to have been tested again or screened for Syringomyelia, an extremely painful brain condition that has led to the breed being banned in Norway.
I have always thought it a little disappointing that are few health testing or responsible breeding requirements for dogs to be competed at Crufts but without this win, this important issue is unlikely to have received any attention at all.
What there is though, introduced last year, are breathing tests for some of the flat faced breeds. A very welcome change and one which I suspect was significantly influenced by public scrutiny.
Holly was awarded the Best of Breed of the German Shepherds but was pulled from the Group final because she was lame and it is not not unreasonable to think the conformation of her hind legs – the breed trait of them being very sloped with a gait that causes their hocks to hit the floor – had an impact on that.
The way show GSDs stand and move is a constant source of puzzlement to the average observer but prized in the show ring. It has been famously discussed in years gone by but I was pleased to see it being discussed again in some quarters, due to this incident.
Dogs cannot be withdrawn by the vets simply because of their conformation, that conformation has to be causing a physical problem at the time of the show (which is why Bruin was allowed to compete and win)
Crufts is an event of two halves; one is a celebration of dogs in all their forms and one is a dog show. The former is great fun and I can recommend a visit, the latter is very different but vital because of the focus to brings to the pedigree world and the change we can enact because of that.
Is it perfect? Clearly not. Is it a good thing that it exists though? Absolutely.
Links for you to follow;
CRUFFA post about Dublin; https://www.facebook.com/groups/cruffa/posts/4107966096087182
Powerful post from a person heavily involved in the responsible breeding of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels;
https://www.facebook.com/bridgette.evans.5/posts/26144408415227418
VIP Walkies post on working vs show line labradors
https://www.facebook.com/VIPwalkies/posts/1540553764128198
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cruffa
https://www.innatehealthassessment.org/
