Crufts Dog Show 2014
JAIC Newsletter
Issue 17
4
The main event of the day is of course the breed showing. However, there were also a lot of other activities and finals also taking place at Crufts over the four days of the show. Also we must not forget the large Discover Dogs section of the show, which allows members of the public to meet the different dog breeds, including of course the Japanese Akita Inu.
The shopping is another big draw of Crufts, there are many companies there selling all manner of things for dogs and associated activities. There were grooming products, dog food, treats, supplements, accessories, toys, towels, cooling coats, warming coats and of course all manner of clothing, footwear and accessories for their human companions as well. In addition there are trainers, seminars and demonstrations of many different types.
Rescue organisations are also invited, with different rescues representing their breed on the different days.
So Crufts has been and gone for another year. Yet again it was a huge show with way too many shopping opportunities for my wallet! Thousands of dogs and people descended on Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre for Crufts 2014, over 21,000 dogs were entered this year, an increase on last year. The entry of Japanese Akita Inu's was 48 which is the highest ever at Crufts (and at any breed show? - I'm not sure but I suspect it may be).
The club was manning the breed booth at Discover Dogs over the 4 days and the committee would like to extend their thanks to those dogs and owners who spent their time talking to the public and informing them about our breed. Especially the dogs who I'm sure eventually get tired of meeting quite so many people over the four days. We did some time on the stand and can confirm that although an enjoyable day it is a very long and both the dogs and owners are tired by the end of the day.
The Japanese Akita Inu judging was judged by Mac Shutt and was scheduled after the Japanese Spitz and the Japanese Shiba Inu. Unfortunately, the entries for these breeds meant that the judging didn't start until 5pm. As there was an entry of 48 dogs this meant that we didn't finish judging until 7pm which has to be the latest that I've ever stayed at Crufts! I don't think that we were the last to leave, although most of the visitors had left by then and quite a lot of the trade stands had also gone by then as well.
We did get to watch the start of the Group judging on the big screen as that started before we had finished judging, although I believe Tina managed to get Maru into the group to be judged.