Three cheers as Crufts welcomes foreign breeds with open paws

Some people think that the awards season climaxed on Sunday evening with the Oscars. These people are wrong. Forget the red carpet in Hollywood: Crufts kicks off in Birmingham this week and the self-styled “world’s greatest dog show” is going to be even more of a nail-biter than usual.

They’ve changed the rules, see. So this year, for the first time since Mr Cruft launched his competition in Islington in 1891, a foreign breed could win the top prize of “Best in Show”.

Take the hairless Mexican xoloitzcuintle, or xolo for short. This is the national dog of Mexico – one which the Aztecs considered so sacred they were often buried besides them (although they also ate them, so Xolos didn’t lead an entirely charmed lives). Until now, the Xolo could come to Crufts and parade around the ring, but only in the “imported breed” class. It could go no further in the competition.

This year, however, foreign breeds such as the xolo will be allowed to compete in the group rounds (best working dog, best toy dog and so on), then perhaps progress to the final, where another judge will decide whether they’re champion material. “We felt that if someone has gone to the expense and trouble of bringing a breed into the country, it seemed unfair to slam the door on them for the top prize,” said Kennel Club secretary, Caroline Kisko.

Isn’t that cheerfully inclusive, given that we live in an age where certain politicians are still banging on about erecting walls to stop immigration? And I don’t mean it’s just lovely for Mexico. I mean it for all the foreign dogs travelling to Crufts this week. Of almost 21,000 dogs expected, 3,623 of them will come from abroad. There are entries from Peru, Bahrain and Kazakhstan (the latter is entering a toy poodle whose full name is genuinely “Ukraine and Kazakhstan Champion Airi Arabeska A Classy Brilliant Dream”), for the first time ever. Because let’s be honest, who wants to see yet another golden retriever called Sandy bounce around the ring (688 of them have been entered this year alone), when you could watch a Hungarian pumi instead? For those who don’t know, the pumi is a fluffy dog with hair like Boris Johnson, although hopefully the judges won’t hold that against the poor thing.

“It’s the Bookerisation of Crufts!” some might cry, panicked at the very idea that a foreign breed might trounce their dopey labrador. But, honestly, if you think opening up a dog competition is the end of civilisation as you know it, well, have you considered therapy?

And there’s another potential advantage to the change of rules. It was reported last month that 60 dogs are stolen in the UK every week. Depressing. But the popularity of some of the most targeted breeds – such as chihuahuas and pomeranians – has soared because some celebrity has trotted around with one in their handbag and others have decided to copy them. Inbreeding has rocketed for similar reasons, with grim tales of bulldogs unable to walk because they have deformed spines and bug-eyed pugs that can’t breathe because their noses are too flat. If opening up Crufts to a greater variety of dogs makes everyone more openminded about breeds, that’s marvellous.

Ultimately, healthy, happy dogs are what you want, whether they’re from Mexico or Melton Mowbray. So bravo for broadening your outlook, Crufts, and on with the show. read more at telegraph.co.uk/opinion