Crufts 2025: Best in Show winner crowned as fans fume ‘runner up should’ve won’

Disappointed fans were hoping that Viking would win.

“Tibetan should have won,” one said on the YouTube live stream.

Another said: “Nooo Mastiff.”

Miuccia The Whippet wins Best in Show. Congratulations Miuccia!

Viking Tibetan Mastiff has taken the reserve spot.

Judge Patsy Hollings signing certificate of Best in Show.

Before the winner is announced Express.co.uk want to wish the best of luck to all the pooches in the running to take home the top award!

One dog will be taking home the grand prize any moment now.

The crowd have gone crazy for the calm and collected Dzhozias Viking.

Miuccia The Whippet is already a champion in eight countries.

A Whippet has not won Best in Show since 2018.

The crowd has gone wild for Suzy a Cocker Spaniel winner of the Gundog Group.

Ana the Jack Russel winner of Terrier Group, has been tiped as ‘the favourite’.

The moment we’ve been waiting for is here over 20k dogs have been judged and now we’re welcoming the magnificent sevens to the Best in Show 2025.

Ana, the Jack Russel winner of Terrier Group, is the people at homes favourite with 31%.

The crowd is gripped with anticipation as the Best in Show will start very soon at 8:30pm.

The trophy has been brought to the stage whilst Samantha, an opera singer, performs Skyfall.

Police officers have taken to the stage to ice ice baby playing.

An array of police dogs are showing off their skills during the West Midlands Police Display.

The crowd is in hysterics and cheers after a German Shepherd successfully arrested a criminal: his name is PD Chase.

Shake the Australian Shepherd has been named winner of the Pastoral Group at Crufts 2025.

He becomes the last finalist for Best in Show.

The crowd here at Crufts has fallen silent as they watch an introductory clip of police and their dogs.

receive a replica of the solid silver Keddall Memorial Trophy (named after Robert Keddall, show manager for 30 years) and a modest cash prize of £100, reports .

However, it’s worth way more in sponsorship deals and stud fees, as puppies from winners can fetch thousands.

If you’re thinking of entering, there is one breed of dog which statistically is more likely to win.

Cocker Spaniels are the best bet having come out on top more times than any other breed.

Mr V Molnar owner of Viking said: “We invest a lot of time in him, he came to us when he was just five months old.

“This is like a dream.”

The winner of the Young Kennel Club Stakes Final has been announced.

First place goes to Ch Soletrader Fun Times For Rangali JW, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (a French hound bred to hunt rabbits) known as Freda, who was shown in the ring by Maisie Allenby

The crowd appear to be up in arms over Tibetan Mastiff taking the Working Dog Class Category title with many claiming ‘The Dobermann’ was robbed.

Despite The Dobermann and Newfoundland appearing to be fan favourites Tibetan Mastiff, called Dzhozias Viking (Mr V Molnar), known as Viking, took the Working Dog Class Category title.

Viking becomes the next finalist for Best in Show.

During the Working Dog Class Category The Dobermann provoked loud cheers from the crowd.

Another fan favourite appears to be Newfoundland.

During working dog class a Bernese Mountain dog just wanted to roll and cuddle while his peers prance for the judges.

The door was hilariously filmed rolling on the floor looking for attention.

The Kennel Club’s Hero Dog Award for 2025 goes to retired police dog handler Mandy Chapman and her dog Baloo.

Baloo, an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, had to have one of her legs amputated after she was hit by a suspect’s car that was fleeing a crime scene. She was retired from Essex Police in 2018.

Mandy, from Chelmsford, adopted Baloo a couple of months after she was injured.

“It’s phenomenal what Baloo has achieved in her life, after such a trauma and serious injuries,” said Mandy. “Her disability hasn’t stopped her – in the last six years she’s changed lives and spread smiles every day. I’m just so proud of her.”

Dogs rarely attack before , however, these signs may have been missed for a prolonged time because they are seemingly discreet.

According to Lorraine Smith from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK), “different dogs will have different signs according to whether their signs were listened to previously”. Nevertheless, there are a few common signals that dog owners should know means their furry friend has had enough.

“If they find that their low level signs were not listened to, they might then escalate next to the next level, and if those aren’t listened to, they might [snap], Lorraine explains as she stands at her APDT UK booth at the 2025 . The dog educator noted that your pooch might climb the ‘ladder of aggression’ if they feel like their boundaries have been breached for too long.

Roadrunners Beep Beep have won the Flyball finals at Crufts 2025.

The Belgium team were named winners just now, completing the Flyball competitions at the show.

impressed judges on Sunday (March 9) afternoon, taking home top titles in the Doberman breed segment of the event.

While all competing left an impression on the audience, it was Alvin, a Black and Rust male Doberman, who ultimately won the Best of Breed class. Not far behind, Ch Amazon She Must Be Adored JW, AKA “Cello”, took the gong for Opposite Sex.

Nevertheless, her beauty and grace has left many onlookers impressed. “We’ve already had people asking us [to mate from her],” Clive Evans, owner of the Amazon Dobermanns kennel, reveals.

Here is what we can expect from the next hour:

4:30pm – Flyball – Semi-Finals and Final

4:50pm – Samantha Oxborough

5pm Agility – Championship – Small/Medium – Agility Final

Prior to the break the Southern Golden Retriever Display Team put on an amazing performance.

The audience were left in hysterics after one of the golden retriever’s appeared to have an itch they could just not scratch and was filmed having a good old itch during the display.

Audience members have just been treated to a winners performance by award winning Trip Hazard, a Maltese and Pomeranian mix, and her owner Lucy Heath.

Crufts will be returning with the Flyball Semi-Finals and Final at 4:30.

18-year-old junior handler Julie Erikson and a Pointer called Arthur were named the winners of the Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling final.

The pair, from Norway, were awarded first place on Friday evening after fending off competition from 38 young handlers aged between 12 and 19 from all over the world.

Runner-up was chosen as 14-year-old Soleile Huikeshoven, from the Netherlands, handling a Dobermann called Carice and third place was Lila Holberg, representing the USA, handling a Pointer called Toggi.

Their handling skills and breed expertise were all put the test, having only met the dogs they worked with that morning.

Julie said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed, it was totally unexpected. So grateful to the judge for appreciating my handling and for the organiser for arranging this wonderful event. This win means everything, and I’m overjoyed with how the young Pointer I got performed — he truly did an amazing job and his dedication and effort made him the best team player. This was such a rewarding experience, and I’m beyond happy!”

Best in Show winners receive a replica of the solid silver Keddall Memorial Trophy – named after Robert Keddall, show manager for 30 years – and a cash prize of £200.

Winners may also secure sponsorships or fetch thousands of pounds in stud fees.

Experts have said a puppy from a Crufts winner could be expected to sell for around £1,500, while it’s been claimed that a Best of Breed winner can rake in up to £250,000 in stud fees for his owner and sire up to 300 litters.

A team of 23 Golden Retrievers and their owners took to the stage to perform a heartwarming obedience routine to music, including ABBA.

Below are the results for the Agility Championship (Jumping) competition.

Small (Jumping) winner – Louise Goodwin and AG CH The Fate Of The Furious At Vamonalou

2nd Place – Martin Reid, AG CH Get It With Eager To Work

Medium (Jumping) winner – Liza Carpenter and AG CH Moseleywood Maggie AW (P))

2nd place – Dalton Meredith, AG CH Fandabidozi Munchykin Jive

The agility competition will take place this afternoon.

Let’s take a look at some of Cruft’s previous Best in Show winners.

2024

Viking, a three-year-old Australian Shepherd, won Best in Show in 2024. Representing the Pastoral Group, Viking stood out for his intelligence, agility, and stunning appearance.

Owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw, and Kerry Kirtley, Viking’s win was the first for his breed since 2006, competing against 167 other Australian Shepherds in 2024.

2023

In 2023, Orca, a Lagotto Romagnolo from Croatia, made history as the first of her breed to win Best in Show.

At nearly five years old, Orca competed in the Gundog Group and impressed judges with her curly coat and lively spirit, owned by Sabina Zdunić Šinković and Ante Lucin.

2022

After a year-long break due to -19, Baxer, a six-year-old Flat Coated Retriever from Norway, won Best in Show in 2022.

Competing in the Gundog Group, Baxer’s energy and elegance captured the judges’ attention.

Owned by Ragnhild Ulin, and his co-owner and handler, Patrick Oware, Baxer triumphed over more than 3,800 Gundogs to take the top spot and was the third Flat-Coated Retriever to win Best in Show, the last being in 2011.

While the main show focuses on pedigree breeds, Scruffts is a showcase of crossbreed dogs, giving them the opportunity to shine in a selection of categories, including Most Handsome, Prettiest Bitch and Golden Oldie.

This year, actress and radio presenter had the unenviable task of judging this year’s final.

“The walk through Crufts is incredible, I’ve seen so many dogs from golden retrievers to labs, to a massive poodle having it’s haircut,” she said. “It’s massive, it’s like the Olympics for dogs!

“I was nervous about judging because I just wanted to tell all the dogs that they’re winners. It was really tough.”

Atkinson picked a Lurcher Whippet Collie Cross, Lola, and owner Bex Hall as the winner, who came first in the Prettiest Bitch category.

“Coming first out of six in our category was pretty amazing but to then go on and win the whole of Scruffts is a dream come true,” said Hall.

The winner of the Heelwork to Music this year is Pomeranian Maltese cross Little Miss Hazard, instructed by her owner Lucy Heath.

The pup performed an adorable routine to A Friend Like Me from the 2019 hit remake of Disney classic Aladdin.

Established in 1891, Crufts is seen as the greatest dog show in the Earth, drawing in canines from across the world. In 2024, Crufts again welcomed over 150,000 attendees – and that is not including the dogs.

It has been held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham since 1991.

Crufts is named after its founder, Charles Cruft. Charles was a British businessman, initially employed as a general manager for a dog biscuit manufacturer. The event gained popularity and recognition over the years and eventually became what is today one of the most prestigious dogs show in the world.

Visitors can browse through numerous stalls featuring a diverse range of dog-related products, get expert advice from trainers and breeders, and even witness special dog activities like the exhilerating flyball competition.

It also recognises the significant impact the furry companions have on our lives and the encouragement they provide during challenging times, through the Kennel Club Hero Dog competition.

It also champions dog health. Last year, pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs (flat-faced breeds) were restricted from entering the show unless they passed a new breathing test.

Only one group judging took place on Day 3 – the gundogs – down to the sheer number of participants. 509 Golden Retrievers, 485 Labrador Retrievers, and 418 Cocker Spaniels, making this the largest category of contenders by far.

Winner of Gundog Group 2025: Spaniel (Cocker): Sh Ch Zheridons Blanche (Mr D C & Mr M D Todd & Rahman)

We now have five of the seven finalists ahead of tonight’s Best in Show. The Working and Pastoral group judgings will be at 6pm and 6.50pm respectively.

The Best in Show will take place from 8.30pm.

Day 2 saw the announcement of the winners of the Utility and Toy groups, along with handing out trophies to the top dogs who triumphed in agility, flyball, and heelwork to music competitions.

Winner of Utility Group 2025: Miniature Schnauzer: Aidante Georgia On My Mind, known as Liza (Mr A.l. & Mr J.g.m Lucin & Gonzalez Mendicote)

Winner of Toy Group 2025: Papillon: Ch Gleniren Miracle Starmaker, known as Sophia (Mrs I & Mr G Robb)

Shophia’s proud owner, Glenn, said: “She’s only 17 months and to win the group at Crufts is just a dream come true.

“That was a very strong group – it was a real honour to win. She took it all in her stride, for one so young, it’s her first time here.”

You can watch all of the main arena action from all four days of Crufts LIVE via their . You can also find recaps of the major events including Agility, Heelwork to Music, Hero Dog Awards and group awards here.

Channel 4 and More 4 will be broadcasting all the major action:

SUNDAY 9 MARCH:

2-6pm – Channel 4

7-9pm – Channel 4: Best in Show live

Day 1 of Crufts saw thousands of dogs strut their stuff at the NEC Birmingham.

This included the judging of the terrier and hound groups in anticipation for this evening’s Best in Show. Each of the breeds in these two groups were judged and all the breed winners then proceeded to the group judging.

Winner of Terrier 2025: Jack Russell Terrier: Totgree’s Hannabell (Mr S. Sgura)

Winner of Hound 2025: Whippet: Int/multi Ch Una Donna Che Conta Euw23 (Mrs A Corradini)

8.35am: Agility – Championships – Small/Medium (Jumping)

9.40am: Rescue Dog Agility

10.10am: Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Display

10.40am: Heelwork to Music Winner

10.45am: Dog Activities Display

11.15am: Southern Golden Retriever Display Team

12:00pm: Agility Championships – Small/Medium (Agility)

1.05pm: Medical Detection Dogs display

3pm: Arena open for Best in Show ticket holders

4.15pm: Samantha Oxborough, classical singer

4.30pm: Flyball – Semi-Finals and Final

4.50pm: Samantha Oxborough

5pm: Agility – Championship – Small/Medium – Agility Final

5.40pm: The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award

5.50pm: Young Kennel Club Stakes Final and Presentation

6pm: Group Judging (Working) and Presentation

6.50pm: Group Judging (Pastoral) and Presentation (preceded by presentation of BIS 2024 painting)

7.50pm: Samantha Oxborough

8pm: West Midlands Police Dog Display

8.20pm: Presentation of the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award

8.27pm: Samantha Oxborough

8.30pm: Best in Show and Presentation

Good morning and welcome to this live blog of Day 4, the final day, of Crufts 2025.

I will be taking you through the events of Sunday’s events, including the agility and flyball finals, as well as the lead-up to this evening’s coverted “Best in Show” competition.

Please follow along for updates!