Originally launched on 15 January 2009, the prestigious breeders' competition, sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, gives breeders the opportunity to showcase their skills and knowledge as a breeder. Each year a number of qualifying heats take place at general and group championship shows. Teams pay £15 to compete to gain points by being placed between 1st - 4th. Points will be recorded by Our Dogs, which will publish a leaderboard within their newspaper throughout the year.
The top 40 teams will qualify for the final at Crufts, of which two positions will be for the breeders’ competition winners from the European and world dog shows.
Crufts 2024 - Overall Winners
Breeders Competition winners at Crufts 2024.
Cathy Thompson-Morgan won the ultimate breeder title, alongside her team of Belleville Portuguese Water Dogs. The team beat 42 other breeders who qualified for the final. See Below for the winner and runners up of the 2024 competition:
Crufts 2024 Winners
| PLACE | BREED | BREEDER | KENNEL NAME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Portuguese Water Dog | Mrs C Thompson | Belleville |
| 2nd | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Mrs H Parsons | Priorpark |
| 3rd | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Mrs C & Mrs C Satherley | Silkcroft |
| 4th | Retriever (Flat Coated) | Mrs J B Campbell | Ronevorg |
The qualifying teams competing at Crufts 2025 are TBA:
Utility
TBA
Toys
TBA
Gundog
TBA
Working
TBA
Pastoral
TBA
Terrier
TBA
Hound
TBA
Qualifying heats for Crufts 2025
Breeders competition is a mandatory class at all UK General and Group Championship shows. For a complete list of these shows, including dates, please click here.
Dog show secretary information
For more information about running a show, visit The Kennel Club website.
Breeders competition Frequently Asked Questions
Q. At what shows can these classes be scheduled?
A. The competition will be held at all general and group championship shows.
Q. How many dogs should be entered in each team?
A. Three or four dogs of the same breed will make up the team, and each dog must have its own handler. The breeder’s details for each dog must be identical.
Q. What is the entry fee for the competition?
A. The recommended entry fee is £15 per team.
Q. Can a breeder enter multiple teams?
A. Yes, provided all the dogs in each team have identical breeder details, the breeder may enter as many teams as they wish.
Q. Do all the dogs entered in the team have to be previously entered at the show, or can this be a first entry?
A. No, the Breeders Competition can be the first entry.
Q. As the breeder is entering the team, who is responsible for ensuring the dogs are under control and have not been in contact with contagious diseases etc.?
A. The breeder confirms on the entry form that they are entering on behalf of the other competitors within the team. It is the responsibility of the owner/exhibitor/handler or other person in charge of the dog, to ensure they are under control.
Q. As the competition is being entered by the breeder, could a judge of a different breed exhibit a dog within the breeders’ competition?
A. No – a judge at the show may not exhibit in the breeders’ competition at that show.
Q. What information is required by the breeder when entering?
A. The breeder must provide their own details (the breeder’s details) and the affix / kennel name (if they have one) together with the total number of dogs that will be part of the team at that show.
Q. As it is the breeder who is entering the competition, will it be permissible to have different dogs in the team at different shows?
A. Yes that is permissible.
Q. Which dogs should be exhibited at Crufts in the breeders’ competition for each breeder?
A. It is up to the individual breeder which dogs they invite to represent them at Crufts.
Q. How will the competition work?
A. The team awarded 1st place will gain 30 points, the team awarded 2nd place will gain 15 points, 3rd will gain 10 points and 4th will gain 5 points. The top 40 teams at the end of the year will be eligible to enter.
Q. What will happen if there are several teams on the same points, meaning there are more than 40 teams qualified?
A. If there is an equality of points after all the heat results have been calculated, the teams which have achieved the highest place at a heat will take preference in the final allocation of places.
Q. Who can judge the breeders’ competition?
A. A judge who awards challenge certificates in three or more separate and unconnected breeds.
Q. If the breeder is an assured breeder, how is that identified in the catalogue?
A. At the time of entry, there is no requirement to provide evidence of assured breeder membership and therefore this information will not be shown in the catalogue.
Q. What is the prize money that will be awarded for this competition?
A. The winner of each breeders’ group competition will be awarded £20 prize money. If the winner is an assured breeder they are entitled to an additional £5.
Q. Will The Kennel Club be issuing prize cards and providing rosettes for this competition or is that the responsibility of the society?
A. The Kennel Club will not be supplying prize cards or rosettes.
Q. How will the society be issued with the prize money from The Kennel Club / Agria?
A. Each general and group championship society needs to contact The Kennel Club’s breed shows team after the show to be reimbursed with the appropriate prize money.
This request needs to be on club headed paper but may be emailed here.
Further questions?
If you have any further questions, please email crufts@thekennelclub.org.uk