Crufts 2024 in 11 pictures as world-famous dog show gets under way
Every year, thousands of dog owners arrive at Crufts with their beloved pets in-hand to get rated, ranked and rewarded after years of training.
The show, which has been held nearly every year since 1891, aims to celebrate happy and healthy dogs and demonstrate their agility, obedience, heelwork and flyball skills.
This year’s show, featuring more than 24,000 dogs from 220 breeds, is taking place from Thursday 7 March until Sunday 10 March. The event culminates in the esteemed Best in Show 2024 trophy, which will be awarded on Sunday evening.
Here, i‘s Picture Editor Sophie Batterbury has selected some of the best pictures to sum up the event so far.
A Great Dane gets a kiss competing in the Working and Pastoral class on the third day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 9, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
An owner grooms her Samoyed ahead of judging on the third day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham, Britain, March 9, 2024.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Photographer: Phil Noble
Dogs in coats arrive on the third day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 9, 2024.
(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
A man waits to show his Dalmatian during judging on the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham, on Thursday (Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters)A Yorkshire terrier takes to the parade ring during Crufts at the National Exhibition Centre n Birmingham on Thursday (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)A Standard Poodle named Mortis waits patiently to enter the judging ring at the National Exhibition Centre (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)Shih Tzu judging during the Toy and Utility class on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)A Yorkshire Terrier is prepared in the Toy and Utility class on the first day of the Crufts (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)A Deerhound and an Italian Greyhound arrive on the first day of the Crufts (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)Dalmatians are judged in the Toy and Utility class on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre (Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP)A Standard Poodle is groomed by its owner during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show (Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire)Italian greyhounds wait to be judged in the show ring during Crufts at the National Exhibition Centre (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)A Yorkshire Terrier is prepared in the Toy and Utility class on the first day of the Crufts dog show (Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP) A man holds a Chihuahua as he reads a book ahead of judging on the first day of the Crufts (Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters)
