This year’s Scruffts competition attracted over 1,300 crossbreeds and their owners, but just six have made it all the way, winning a place in the final at Crufts for the Scruffts Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year final next year.
The semi-finals took place at London’s biggest dog event, Eukanuba Discover Dogs at ExCeL London over the weekend of October 21st and 22nd, with talented dogs and passionate owners coming together to compete for a place at the world’s greatest dog show.
Judge Pauline Luxmoore-Ball had the tough decision to choose just one winner for each of the six classes over the two days. The winners were:
- Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog: Milo the Anatolian Shepherd/German Shepherd cross, owned by Charley Henkey from Reading, Berkshire
- Good Citizen Dog Scheme: Jack the Shih tzu/Maltese cross, owned by Young Kennel Club owner Josie Baldwin from Deal, Kent
- Golden Oldie Crossbreed: Missy the Bearded Collie cross, owned by Anna Drinkwater from Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
- Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch: Hattie the Irish Setter/Welsh Collie cross, owned by Hanna Cunningham from Plymouth, Devon
- Child’s Best Friend: Rufus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Poodle cross, owned by twelve year-old Dylan Kirke from Newport, South Wales
- Best Crossbreed Rescue: Honey the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, owned by Emma Williamson from South London
The six dogs are now getting ready to compete at Crufts 2018, which will be held at the NEC Birmingham next March, where the judges will be making the difficult decision of choosing the Scruffts Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year.
Throughout the year, heats of the popular Scruffts contest, which is supported by pet food makers James Wellbeloved, have taken place at events around the country in search of crossbreeds with that extra special something.
More than 1,300 dogs have taken part in the Scruffts heats this year, raising nearly £4,000 for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and each event’s chosen charity. The winners of each heat received delicious James Wellbeloved goodies for their dog.
James Wellbeloved marketing director Alison Sudbury said: “Huge congratulations to our six lucky finalists who have made it through to the main arena at Crufts next year. It must have been an extremely difficult decision for Pauline as all the semi-finalists were on top form! Well done to everyone who took part in the heats and semi-final stages – it’s fantastic to see the bond between these crossbreeds and their owners – they really are a part of the family.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “Congratulations to all our fantastic finalists, we are looking forward to welcoming them to Crufts next year. They are all worthy winners and we hope that they enjoy every moment in the lead up to the world’s biggest dog show. Not many people get to compete in the main arena at Crufts, so this will be an extra special experience for them all.”
Scruffts is run in support of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which has donated over £10m worth of grants to benefit the canine world since its inception in 1987. Its mission is to ‘make a difference for dogs’ through charitable grants and helping to fund research into canine health problems.
To find out more about Scruffts, please visit http://www.crufts.org.uk/content/whats-on/how-to-enter-scruffts/.
For tickets to Crufts, please visit www.crufts.org.uk