Stubbylee Blog

After a few days to recover its time to reflect on some of the good & bad things about Crufts 2009

• It seemed quieter especially on the 1st day, with fewer overseas visitors. Many regular faces we look forward to meeting each year weren’t there.
• There seemed to be more space for the dogs, perhaps because some of the bigger stands (Pedigree) were missing.
• Health matters were ever present from the KC stands to the leaflets on all the Discover Dogs stands. People also seemed to take every opportunity to stress positive health messages to visitors
• It seemed better around the rings without the, at times, intrusive presence of the BBC camera crews.
• The TV coverage on the Internet was nicely balanced, focusing on the dogs. It was nice to see all the group judging and other main ring events such as the International Junior handling but frustrating to have o pay to view missed coverage.
• Lots of people we’ve spoken to since Crufts were disappointed that the BBC didn’t cover the show
• I didn’t hear as many anti dog stories on TV & radio in the run up to Crufts
• A lot of the hysteria around protests that circulated on the Internet before the show didn’t materialise.

Overall it was a pretty good Crufts it will be interesting to see if it continues next year

it was back to Crufts yesterday for the final day with Andrew showing Leo  whilst we took Zorro & Diva back for Discover Dogs.  It was a lot busier than Thursday with far more overseas visitors in evidence but it still didnt feel as hectic as in previous years. Partly this was because there was a lot more space in Hall 3 with wider walkways preventing overcrowding. Diva & Zorro had a great time on Discover Dogs, especially when we let them out of the pen, throughly enjoying their ‘meet & greet’. It was amazing how the smallest of choldren were fascinated with Zorro, wanting to hug this big black & white thing and how he was so gentle with them. People were a bit confused when Leo was in the pen as well, quite a few asked if he was a baby borzoi.

After our morning on the stand we said a quick hello to Ola, her mother & father, she’d qualified once again for the International Junior Handler but this year chose a smaller breed to handle than a borzoi. We then wandered round to the Viyo Elite stand to pick up the Top Sire award with glasses of champagne for Liz & Andrew. By then we were that tired we decided to go back to the car without a full look around the show, stopping off at the Border Collie benches for a farewell chat.

We’d parked in the West Car Park so saw no sign of protestors, people said there were around 40 by the main enterance but they were kept well back behind barriers.

Today was the first day of Crufts - the first Crufts under all the new KC initiatives.

On the showing side it was a good one for us with Zorro & Diva both winning their classes. Around the ring it was quite without a lot of spectators. A lot of the overseas visitors you get used to seeing and talking to year after year weren’t there; even some ringside seats were left vacant. The groups of Japanese girls snapping away at dogs left, right & centre were absent. But Thursday always seems to be a lot quiter than the remaining 3 days. perhaps because of this its unfair to judge any impact of the BBC programme and the withdrawl of Pedigree etc may have had. It was strange walking into Hall 3 without the massive Pedigree stand dominating the centre of the hall and the crowds queueing for free samples. Instead we had the KC stand trumpeting their health initiatives. The health message seems very dominant not just with the KC stand but also in the catalogue, announcements and the webcast commentary.

Generally the show seemed a lot more relaxed without the extensive BBC presence but there were lots of other KC backed press interviewing class & BIB winners and trying to portray a positive message. Certainly from our point of view it was good to speak to spectators putting across the real benefits of our breed. Whilst on the subject of the BBC it was interesting that on their breakfast TV & Radio coverage there seemed to be no mention at all of Crufts and perhaps significantly I didn’t hear any of the usual Day 1 news pieces pushing anti pedigree dog messages and providing yet another publicity platform for our detractors.

 When we go back on Sunday for Discover Dogs we’ll be able to have a better look around the show as a whole and get a far better feel for thee overall atmosphere.