Crufts 2024 is the world's biggest dog show which saw proud owners from all over the world show off their pooches in a series of challenges, with the hopes that their dog would win the coveted title of Best in Show.
From Poodles to Pugs, the prestigious dog show featured a number of dog competitions that attracted thousands of canines and their handlers who showcased the skills and abilities of their canines to everyone around the world.
Crufts celebrates dogs, highlighting the best in different competitive categories, with the favourites such as live Flyball, Agility, Heelwork to Music and the Best in Show title all returning this year.
The event, which was held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, displayed the finest breeds and their abilities, while always following the Kennel Club’s rigorous standards.
Here's everything we know about Crufts 2024...
Crufts 2024 release date
Crufts 2024 aired over over four days from Thursday, March 7 to Sunday, March 10 on Channel 4. There was also live coverage on the Crufts YouTube channel throughout each day of the show.
All episodes are available to watch now on All 4.
Here were the scheduled times below:
Thursday, March 7
Crufts 2024 aired as follows:
- 3pm-4pm – Channel 4
- 6.30pm-7.30pm – More4
- 7.30pm-9pm – Channel 4
Friday, March 8
Crufts 2024 aired as follows:
- 3.30pm-6pm – Channel 4
- 6.30pm-7.30pm – More4
- 7.30pm-8.30pm – Channel 4
Saturday, March 9
Crufts 2024 aired as follows:
- 3.30pm-6pm – Channel 4
- 7pm-9.30pm – Channel 4
Sunday, March 10
Crufts 2024 aired as follows:
- 4pm-6pm – Channel 4
- 7pm-9pm – Channel 4 Crufts 2024: Best In Show Live
Crufts 2024: who won Best in Show?
An Australian shepherd named Viking was crowned Best in Show at Crufts 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Three year old Viking, from Solihull, Birmingham, beat 24,000 dogs from around the world to win the coveted title.
One of Viking's owners Melanie Raymond, who is a third generation dog breeder, said: “We all dream of winning best in show at Crufts.”
Asked if he lived up to expectation, she said: “He did actually, I should never doubt him because he always gives me everything and you come in and he’s like ‘yep, come on let’s do this.' So he loves every minute of it.”
Crufts 2024 episode guide
Day one (Thursday, March 7): Clare Balding presented live coverage from the NEC. The competition began with the speed and excitement of the Flyball heats, as star Belgian team Road Runners Beep Beep try to win the title for a third year in a row. Reporter Radzi Chinyanganya and commentators Jim Rosenthal and Graham Partridge were there for all the action. Meanwhile, Sophie Morgan and her guests wandered the halls of the NEC, presenting features, conducting interviews and discussing all the hot topics in the dog world.
Day two (Friday, March 8): Clare Balding was back at the NEC, as dog owners from across the globe descended on Birmingham. Aces High were among the UK teams beginning their campaign in the Flyball competition, with commentary by Jim Rosenthal and Graham Partridge. Plus, Radzi Chinyanganya captured all the excitement and emotion from the main arena and Sophie Morgan hosted topical discussions surrounded by spectators in the NEC halls.
Day two - 6:30pm (More4): Clare Balding and Sophie Morgan presented live coverage from the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, as canine athletes weaved and jumped over obstacles at top speed on the Agility course in the main arena, watched by our commentators Jim Rosenthal and Graham Partridge. In the International Junior Final, young handlers took their first strides in showing dogs. The latest candidate for the Kennel Club's Hero Dog competition was revealed. And resident vet Dr Paul Manktelow answered viewers' questions.
Day two - 7:30pm: Here, the focus was on Gundogs, a category that has provided the last two Best in Show winners - including last year's winner Orca, the first lagotto Romagnolo ever to win the coveted prize. Plus, all the best moments from the Flyball heats and Agility finals on Day Two of events in the main arena and topical discussions from the venue with co-presenter Sophie Morgan.
Day three (Saturday, March 9): Live coverage from the NEC in Birmingham. Clare Balding and Sophie Morgan guided us through all the action, including the quarter-finals of the high-energy Flyball competition, with commentary from Jim Rosenthal and Graham Partridge. Ashleigh Butler joined the team to provide insight into the skills on show as the large dogs took on the course. Resident vet Dr Paul Manktelow answered viewers' questions on the best ways to keep your dog healthy and happy. Plus, Radzi Chinyanganya was in the main arena as members of the Young Kennel Club unleashed their speedy dogs on the Flyball course.
Day three - 7pm: Some of the biggest breeds competed in the Working Group, while the top Border collie and Samoyed were among the dogs competing in the Pastoral Group. Alison Mitchell, Laura Crombie and Frank Kane provided the commentary. Scruffts gave crossbred dogs their chance to shine in categories including Most Handsome Dog Crossbreed and the Good Citizen Dog Scheme, with Radzi Chinyanganya presenting the awards. Trust and timing were tested in the International Freestyle Heelwork to Music competition. Plus, on a night when big dogs took centre stage, Dion Dublin got advice on how to look after and show his Mastiff.
Day four (Sunday, March 10): This afternoon's programme featured the semi-finals and final of the Flyball competition. Sophie continued her tour of the NEC's halls to find the most topical stories in the canine world, and Radzi Chinyanganya was in the main arena for live coverage of Agility Finals. Plus, The Kennel Club's Hero Dog for 2024 was crowned, recognising the pets and working dogs who have helped to transform people's lives.
Day four - Best in Show: Clare Balding presented this evening's main event, as one dog from the 20,000 that entered Crufts was crowned Best in Show in 2024. Before this came the judging of the Terrier and Hound groups, each of which had provided two Best in Show winners over the last decade. Commentary came from Frank Kane, Alison Mitchell and Laura Crombie.
What happened at Crufts 2024?
The breed competitions took place on the following days:
- Thursday, March 7 — Utility and Toy
- Friday, March 8 — Gundog
- Saturday, March 9 — Working and Pastoral
- Sunday, March 10 — Terrier and hound
- Sunday, March 10 — Best in Show
In Crufts 2024, dogs took part in a selection of activities, from agility to obedience displays. In agility challenges, dogs skilfully navigated through obstacle courses to showcase their speed and dexterity.
The obedience demonstrations spotlighted the dog's training and responsiveness to their handlers' commands, also emphasising their intelligence and discipline.
Next was the conformation show, where dogs were evaluated against the Kennel Club’s breed standards. The dogs were assessed not only for how they look, but also their overall health and their ability to perform the tasks for which their breed was originally developed.
This meant that the champions of the show were both visually representative and perfect in terms of health and functionality for their breed.
Crufts 2024 hosts
The coverage was led by well-renowned broadcast journalist Clare Balding, who was joined by returning co-presenters Radzi Chinyanganya and Sophie Morgan.
Clare Balding revealed her favourite thing about hosting Crufts: “I think just being surrounded by dogs and all of the different breeds. There were 222 different breeds competing last year. And that's not counting the dogs that you'd also see in Flyball and Agility. So I think I just love being with dogs and being with dog people.”
Is there a trailer for Crufts 2024?
Yes, you can watch the trailer below that's brimming with dogs, dogs, dogs!
