It’s showtime!
Whether you were there in person, or you watched the action on TV, Crufts 2023 was definitely a show to remember. Here are a few recollections from some of our readers and contributors.
● Crufts 2023 was such an amazing event, and there are so many ways to get involved, whether you are competing, demoing, spectating, or shopping.
This year my 20-month-old Maltese-cross Dash and I were lucky enough to be part of The Kennel Club Good Citizen demo team, and we even managed to pass our bronze assessment during the event! It was just so exciting and fun to be a small part of the world’s biggest dog show, and for my little dog to cope with it all so well — I couldn’t stop smiling!
Money cannot buy experiences like this. It’s all about making memories, and then taking the best dog home afterwards. Now we need to get practising — can we pass our silver assessment at next year’s show? We are definitely going to try!
Andrea McHugh, Lincolnshire.
● My first Crufts — and it definitely won’t be my last! What a fantastic show. There is so much to it — much more than just Best in Show — although I loved that part of it as well and particularly this year’s winner.
Crufts truly is a celebration of everything that’s great about our much-loved dogs.
Sally Foreman, Merseyside.
● The highlight of Crufts 2023 for me was Lagotto Romagnolo Orca’s constantly wagging tail. Sums it all up perfectly — what a lovely, happy dog, and a very worthy winner.
Jade Milham, Essex.
● So ‘Cruftsmas’ is over for another year, and what a show it was. This was the first time I had qualified two dogs, Golden Retrievers Morris and Travis, and both acquitted themselves admirably. I was particularly proud of Morris, just a year and 10 days old, who was shortlisted in his Junior class out of 23 quality entries. He took his first Crufts in his stride and didn’t put a paw wrong all day. It has to be said, there is something special about showing a dog on that famous green carpet.
It certainly felt like the world’s greatest dog show was back to its best following the pandemic — there was a buzz in the air that snowballed as each day progressed. The organisation, as ever, was top-notch, plus it was really useful to be able to take advantage of The Kennel Club’s discounted health testing schemes in the Vet Centre, having booked an eye test for Morris in advance.
With so much going on in and out of the ring, the day seemed as if it was over before it had even begun — the 4.30am alarm call was definitely worth it!
Bring on Crufts 2024!
Joanne Bednall, Derbyshire.