Crufts Entries 2026

Your dog must have either...

• a Kennel Club registration number
• or an authority to compete number (ATC) 

The following qualifications refer to Kennel Club recognised breeds only (including Kennel Club recognised Imported Register breeds with an interim breed standard)

(1) Any champion from a country with which The Kennel Club has a reciprocal agreement qualifies automatically if it is domiciled in the UK and is on The Kennel Club Breed Register.

(2) Any FCI International Beauty Champion and the two Show Champion titles CIB for 'non-working breeds' and CIE for 'working breeds’.

(3) Winners of Junior Dog, Junior Bitch classes, plus the Best Dog and the Best Bitch at nominated shows in overseas countries as listed on the Crufts website.

(4) Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, Veteran Dog, Veteran Bitch plus CACIB Dog and CACIB Bitch at the World Dog Show 2024. Winners of Junior Dog, Junior Bitch, Veteran Dog, Veteran Bitch plus CACIB Dog and CACIB Bitch at the European Dog Show in Slovenia in 2024.

(5) USA – Winners of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Best Bred-By-Exhibitor, Select Dog and Bitch and Awards of Excellence at the December 2024 AKC National Championship. In addition, Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Best Bred-By-Exhibitor, Select Dog and Bitch and Awards of Merit at one National Breed Specialty show per breed chosen by the breed Parent Club and agreed by the AKC.

(6) CANADA - The top five dogs from each breed according to the Top Show Dog point system, as well as the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Select Dog, Select Bitch and Award of Merit Winners at the National Specialties agreed by the Canadian Kennel Club.

(7) AUSTRALIA – Shows have been nominated for 2024 in each of the eight states. Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, plus the Best Dog and the Best Bitch to qualify at each show.

(8) JAPAN – Winners of Best Dog and Best Bitch of each breed, as well as Best Puppy Dog of each breed and Best Puppy Bitch of each breed at the JKC Sakura Annual Show 2024 (FCI International Dog), Tokyo, Japan.

(9) NEW ZEALAND – (to be confirmed) Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, plus the Best Dog and Best Bitch to qualify from the NZKC National Show.

(10) GUERNSEY – (to be confirmed) All Group Winners, Best Puppy in Show, Reserve Best Puppy in Show, Best Veteran in Show plus Best Junior in Show from the Spring, Autumn and Winter Open Shows in 2024.

(11) JERSEY – (to be confirmed) All Group Winners, All Puppy Group Winners, All Junior Group Winners plus Best Veteran in Show from three nominated Championship Shows in 2024.

(12) HONG KONG – Winners of CAC Dog and CAC Bitch for all Kennel Club recognised breeds from the Summer Classic All Breed Championship Dog Show, in September 2024.

(13) SOUTH AFRICA – All Challenge Certificate (CC’s) and Best of Breed (BOB) winners at the KUSA Championship Show 31 May 2024 .

(14) IRELAND – Winners of Best Junior Dog, Best Junior Bitch, Best Dog and Best Bitch in each Kennel Club recognised breed from the Celtic Winners Show on Sunday 17 June 2024 and the All-Breed Championship Show on Sunday 5 October 2024.

(15) BERMUDA (TBC) - All Bermuda Champions in the 2024 International Dog Show, Best Puppy & Best Veteran.

In order to compete with your dogs in the UK if your dog isn’t registered with The Kennel Club, you will require an ‘Authority to Compete’ (ATC) from The Kennel Club. Please apply for your ATC as early as possible to ensure plenty of time for your request to be processed.

Docked Dogs

Under law, no docked dogs are permitted to be shown at Crufts.

Cropping

No dog with cropped ears is eligible to enter or compete at any Kennel Club licensed event.

Exhibitors of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs

All Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs 12 months old on or before Thursday 6^th March 2026 will need to have a valid Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assessment result to enter and compete at Crufts 2025. An assessment must be in date, i.e. no older than two years from the start of the show.  Dogs turning 12 months on or after 1st January 2026 will be eligible to have their dog assessed at the show prior to entry to their class. All dogs assessed as Grade 3 will not be able to enter the show.

International exhibitors must have a valid RFG assessment in place provided from a licensee country for the RFG scheme, or commit to having the assessment at the show, prior to entry to their class. Overseas exhibitors will be provided with the opportunity to have dogs assessed in a private area at any time from the first day of the show. For up to date information including licensed countries please visit our website or email Health (The Kennel Club).

Bringing dogs into the UK

Crufts exhibitors must ensure that their dogs fully comply with the entry rules for bringing dogs into the UK. In the case of dogs being brought from some countries, this will involve a process which can take a number of months to complete prior to travel to the UK and Crufts.

Visit for www.gov.uk for further details.

Please note:  Birmingham Airport is not a legal point of entry into the UK for those travelling with dogs.  Please ensure you come into the UK via an approved route.  For more guidance visit www.gov.uk

It is the exhibitors responsibility to ensure that any dog entered into Crufts has got the 
necessary travel documentation and health preparations. The Kennel Club has provided the 
following information as guidance to assist exhibitors attending Crufts from overseas, ensuring 
a smooth return home after the event. Please take a moment to read the following information 
and please note that this is not a definitive list of what must be done. This is to be used as a 
guide only, exhibitors should still contact their own authority for exact details on what they need 
to do to ensure a smooth journey for their dog and themselves: 
 
Dogs from the European Union 
Dogs which have entered the UK with a valid EU issued Pet Passport can return with the same 
document. 
Dogs from; 
Norway 
Finland 
Ireland 
Northern Ireland 
Malta 

The above listed countries will require the veterinary administration of a dewormer 24-120 
hours before their anticipated arrival back in the above stated countries. Appointments 
available at the show veterinary centre in Hall 2 between the hours of 3pm and 5pm each day– 
fee in cash will apply. 
 
Dogs from the USA 
Those dogs that have arrived via the EU
Those dogs which have arrived in the EU and then travelled on to the UK will need an AHC 
(Animal Health Certificate) to get back to the EU, for their connecting flight home to the USA. 
They should also for their return have personally completed the US CDC import requirement 
and might require pre Defra requested plus issued paperwork as well. 
Dogs that have travelled direct from the USA into the UK 
Those dogs which have travelled directly into the UK from the USA will personally have to 
complete the US CDC import requirement and might require return pre Defra requested plus 
issued paperwork as well. We recommend you check the Defra website regarding the 
requirement for pre Defra requested issued paperwork. 
Dogs from non EU /non USA countries
- Dogs which have travelled directly from further afield will require a Defra issued. EHC 
(Export Health Certificate) that the owner has to personally pre apply to Defra for in 
order to return to their country of origin. 
- If travelling via the EU they will also require an AHC as well as the above mentioned 
EHC. 
 
What can be supplied by the Crufts Veterinary team?
The issue of an AHC plus the completion of the Defra pre requested, issued plus delivered EHC 
at Crufts is only possible with pre submitted support documentation written in English
along with the following: 
- a valid microchip certificate 
- valid rabies vaccination document 
- possible post rabies vaccination blood sampling certificate for dogs travelling to non 
EU/ non USA countries 
If you need an appointment to arrange travel documentation this needs to be booked well in 
advance and by 15 February 2026 (with all support documentation being pre emailed in pdf 
format ). Please email cruftsmailbox@royalkennelclub.com to request an appointment. 
 
Please note: 
This information is for guidance only, it is the exhibitor’s responsibility to check which 
documents are required to travel with their dog back to their home country. 
For further travel information and bookings please contact: 
cruftsmailbox@royalkennelclub.com