Crufts 2012

[BTB 500]

Any other MBClub members off to Crufts this year?

As some of you will know Mrs BTB and I have a houseful of Border Collies and spend our weekends competing at agility shows round the country

(that's me and Oz - Brentmoor Osprey - at Olympia in December 2010)

Five years ago I was invited by the Kennel Club to judge the Agility Championships at Crufts 2012. This is a huge honour ... the Championships are held in the main ring on the last day, with the Final starting off the evening performance (in the run up to the breed 'Best in Show' award that Crufts ends with). There are other agility events on the Thursday/Friday/Saturday judged by two other people.

Wednesday is setup & practice day at the NEC and the three agility judges get a 2 hour slot (in total) to each put up a couple of our courses (every course at every competition is different - designed by the judge). The ring at Crufts is a bit smaller than we normally use and the surface is astroturf ... so some fairly careful planning is required. It was a good excuse to get the SL out for the 220 mile round trip, although it got pretty filthy on the M40

Today Mrs BTB is up there spectating with a German agility friend we have staying at the moment. She's house/dog/kid sitting on Saturday & Sunday when Mrs BTB and I will be staying up there.

If anyone is interested there's live video from the Arena on the Kennel Club website, 08:30 onwards every day:

Crufts presented by the Kennel Club

The Arena timetable is under "What's On", then Day 1/2/3/4.

There's also a 'catch up' video service (and the live Arena feed) on YouTube:

OfficialCrufts's Channel - YouTube

The Agility Championships start with Round 1 at 11:00 on Sunday, Round 2 is at 13:40, and the Final is at 17:00. Highlights should be shown in the More4 TV coverage starting at 18:30.

 

[Mike Walker]

I love those dogs but not too sure about Crufts anymore having watched the recent TV programme about dalmations/king spaniels etc etc.

 

[Martyn_n]

Not sure I'd be made very welcome, I'm having my dog put down on Tuesday

 

[Harrythedog]

That is indeed an honour BTB 500 well done. Those dogs just love to work

 

[Aerialmark]

In that photo I dont know who is enjoying it more,you or the dog,

 

[BTB 500]

I love those dogs but not too sure about Crufts anymore having watched the recent TV programme about dalmations/king spaniels etc etc.

There are certainly some dodgy breeders out there, but (a) things are definitely changing and (b) they picked the most extreme examples they could find ... obviously, as they were trying to make people watch the programme.

I'm not involved btw, any dog can do agility whether pedigree or Heinz 57. Some of the best dogs are crossbreeds or 'Working Sheep Dogs' (Collies without KC pedigree papers). It's to the KC's credit that they have always been treated equally here and allowed to compete at Crufts etc. - not the case in many other countries.

 

[BTB 500]

Not sure I'd be made very welcome, I'm having my dog put down on Tuesday

Very sorry to hear that.

 

[Red C220]

I like the agility bit, but the rest of it is rather unpalatable (that's dog showing in general).

All the pompous showy bit actually encourages inbreeding and many dogs have medical treatement withheld if it would leave them without a full complement of bodily parts and therefore unable to compete.

 

[BTB 500]

In that photo I dont know who is enjoying it more,you or the dog,

LOL it's a close call! That's the great thing about agility - dogs only do it because they want to.

 

[C43AMG]

Congratulations Bill. Hope it all goes well,will you be on TV ?

 

[trapperjohn]

Not sure I'd be made very welcome, I'm having my dog put down on Tuesday

Sorry to hear that. Two years+ since I had our last dog put down, Rosie. Hurts like hell still when I think about it. Not time yet for another but I'm sure that time will come.

 

[trapperjohn]

Good Luck Bill and your Mrs and the dogs. Well done on the babysitter too.

 

[moonloops]

You are Michael Douglas

 

[BTB 500]

Congratulations Bill. Hope it all goes well,will you be on TV ?

Thanks Peter. Should be in the More4 programme on Sunday night - they usually show some of the Agility Championships at the start of it.

 

[BTB 500]

Incidentally, the winning Bulldog and Pekingese yesterday both had their 'Best of Breed awards' withdrawn after failing vet checks introduced by the Kennel Club this year:

Bulldog and Pekingese fail Crufts vet checks | Crufts presented by the Kennel Club

So neither of these breeds were represented in the group judging last night (the winner of which goes on to 'Best in Show' on Sunday).

As I said, I'm not a great fan of breed showing but I do believe they are doing what they can to dissuade people from breeding fundamentally unhealthy dogs.

 

[Satch]

Just so happens our 1 year old (but I am still just a huge bouncy puppy) Giant Schnauzer went to her first agilty class last evening.

Chaos does not even start to cover it......

 

[BTB 500]

Another breed was dropped from the group judging today after the winner failed the vet check - Clumber Spaniel:

Clumber Spaniel fails Crufts vet check | Crufts presented by the Kennel Club

 

[Red C220]

Another breed was dropped from the group judging today after the winner failed the vet check - Clumber Spaniel:

Clumber Spaniel fails Crufts vet check | Crufts presented by the Kennel Club

That's a step in the right direction.

 

[trapperjohn]

Another breed was dropped from the group judging today after the winner failed the vet check - Clumber Spaniel:

Clumber Spaniel fails Crufts vet check | Crufts presented by the Kennel Club

What is the fate of the dogs that fail this test? Anyone know? No good for breeding, no good for showing. How ruthless are breeders.

Let me make it clear I am not against the tests and think it is all positive. Just wonder what happens to the dogs that fail the test is all.

 

[withabix]

What is the fate of the dogs that fail this test? Anyone know? No good for breeding, no good for showing. How ruthless are breeders.

Let me make it clear I am not against the tests and think it is all positive. Just wonder what happens to the dogs that fail the test is all.

I don't think most owners who show at Crufts would love their dogs any less to be honest.

Her indoors is off there on Sunday.

Our cocker spaniel is descended from Albert (Canigou Cocker Spaniels)

and is the spitting image of him....except she is fat and smelly! (and isn't breed standard because she has a white bit on her chin....now where's that shoe polish....)