A couple of weeks ago, I received the kind of assignment any dog devotee would give their left arm for: reporting on the ground at Crufts. On Thursday morning, I packed my camera, notepad and pen, caught the 7am train to Birmingham and set off to witness the spectacle for myself. I knew that Crufts was going to involve a lot of dogs, of course – but I wasn’t quite prepared for just how many.
It’s almost impossible to go through life without hearing about Crufts at some point, but for the uninitiated, it’s the world’s biggest dog show, attracting around 150,000 visitors from across the globe each year. The event dates back to 1891, when a man named Charles Cruft organised the first show in Islington, London, with roughly 2,000 entries.
Fast forward to 2026, and that number has grown dramatically. This year, an expected 18,698 handlers are expected to show off their dogs in agility and grooming competitions. The event’s soaring popularity is also why, since 1991, Crufts has been held inside the vast exhibition halls of Birmingham’s NEC, one of the few venues big enough to contain it all.
So, we might not know who let the dogs out, but what we do know is that they gather here. And there I was, right in the middle of it all, awestruck by the sheer concentration of canine energy. Here are my key takeaways of the day:
The high volume of truly excellent dog names
If you’re about to welcome a dog into your life and are short on name ideas, Crufts is the place to get inspired. Some of the funniest and most memorable names included Shaun, the Sheepdog; (Bob) Marley, a Pyrenean Shepherd sporting dreadlocks; and Royal, a very regal Pomeranian throning atop a pink blanket in a tiny pink trolley.
There was also Wanda, a four-year-old Cocker Spaniel who sailed through the agility course without a single fault. Fine, I’ll admit I might be slightly biased towards that one.
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It’s not just about agility and grooming
While the high-speed agility courses and impeccably groomed show dogs – often accompanied by equally immaculate handlers – are the headline acts, Crufts has far more going on.
Throughout the day, there are parades, demonstrations and talks covering all aspects of dog ownership. I watched a clicker-training session for maximum trick retention, followed by a crash course on dog-walking etiquette.
You can meet every pedigree breed imaginable
Each day of Crufts focuses on different breed groups. The day I attended was dedicated to working and pastoral breeds, which meant I saw an overwhelming number of Sheepdogs, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds and many more.
When a hint of breed fatigue starts setting in, head to the ‘Discover Dogs’ area. Here you can meet more than 200 pedigree breeds, each with its own stand and enthusiastic owners and breeders ready to answer questions. My personal highlight was an Irish Terrier named Freddie.
There’s a certain… smell
I’m not quite sure what I expected – this is an event dedicated entirely to canines, after all – but the unmistakable scent of dog hanging in the air still caught me slightly off guard. And depending on how many enthusiastic pups you stop to cuddle, you may leave with a lingering eau de dog that sticks around for a day or two.
Consider it a souvenir: a slightly fragrant reminder of all the wagging tails, curious sniffs and joyful chaos that make Crufts what it is.
Crufts takes place from 5 until 8 March 2026 at the NEC Birmingham. For more information, visit the Crufts website.
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
