Crufts 2024 updates — Australian Shepherd named Viking wins Best in Show as protesters dragged out of arena
VIKING, an Australian Shepherd from Solihull, Birmingham, has been named Best in Show at Crufts 2024.
The Australian Shepherd, which won the Pastoral Group title on Saturday, took out the show’s top honour on the fourth and final day in Birmingham.
The three-year-old dog is co-owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley.
It comes as the Crufts crowd reportedly jeered and shouted "Get out!" after protesters stormed onto the showground.
Security guards were seen forcefully pulling a man and a woman out of the arena.
Read our Crufts live blog below for the latest updates...
How to catch up on Crufts 2024
If you missed the action from this years Crufts.
You can head over to the to watch the full live stream from each day.
If you would prefer to watch highlights, head over to Channel 4’s website and search Crufts.
Competition is split into seven categories
Not all dogs can be judged the same, that’s why the dogs are divided into seven categories.
These are:
- Gundog
- Hound
- Pastoral
- Terrier
- Toy
- Utility
- Working
Huge shake-up for 2025 series
There will be a huge shake-up to Cruft’s competition next year after animal cruelty backlash from fans.
After defending its practices in a lengthy statement to The Sun, Crufts has now changed its policies for next year after receiving criticism of animal cruelty.
'Zen - the people's champion'
It looks like Zen captured the public's imagination at this year's Crufts.
Here's what fans have been saying on X:
Crufts in pictures: Viking, Zen ... and protesters
Credit: GETTY 
Credit: PA 
Credit: PA Who were the finalists for Best in Show?
The finalists for the Best in Show for Crufts 2024 were:
- Utility: French Bulldog – Elton
- Toy Group: Papillon – Rafa
- Gundog: Weimaraner – Hendricks
- Pastoral: Australian Shepherd – Viking
- Working: Leonberger – Neville
- Terrier: Jack Russell – Zen
- Hound: Grand Basset – Get Me
A short history of Crufts
Crufts is named after it’s founder Charles Crufts, who travelled around other UK dog shows selling biscuits in the later 1800s.
In 1891, the first Cruft’s Greatest Dog Show was held in Islington, London.
The Covid pandemic saw 2021’s show cancelled for the first time since 1954.
The show finally returned in 2022 after one year off.
BBC dropped Crufts in 2008
The BBC dropped Crufts from its schedule in 2008, two years before its contract to air the competition ended.
It made the decision after a BBC investigation “found dogs on show suffer from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding”.
The BBC that the Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, could not comply with its request for particular breeds to be excluded.
Which dog won Crufts 2023?
Orca the lagotto romagnolo scooped Best In Show at Crufts 2023, making history as the first of its breed to win the award.
One of Orca’s owners, Ante Lucin, said: “This is the first lagotto romagnolo to win at Crufts, so this is so great for the breed.”
Crufts 2023 started on March 9, and ended on March 12.
The Best In Show competition is hugely popular and has been running since 1928.
Recap of yesterdays winners
- Best in Show: Australian Shepherd – Viking
- Hounds group final: Grand Basset – Get Me
- Terrier group final: Jack Russell – Zen
- Agility (large) final: Clippy, handled by Dalton Meredith
- Agility (intermediate) final:
Euro Star, handled by Lee Gibson - Flyball final: Watson’s Legacy
Agility large final winner
Ag Ch Fandabidozi Eclipse Of Dust (Clippy), handled by Dalton Meredith, won the agility championship – large with a time of 33.943.
Here is the top five:
Viking’s owner gets emotional after win
Viking’s co-owner Melanie Raymond said winning Best in Show was a “dream” in an emotional interview.
“I think we all dream of winning Best in Show Crufts,” Raymond said in a teary interview.
“He always gives me everything,” she added. “He loves every minute of it.”
Competition is split into seven categories
Not all dogs can be judged the same, that’s why pups are divided into seven categories.
These are:
- Gundog
- Hound
- Pastoral
- Terrier
- Toy
- Utility
- Working
What breeds go best with your lifestyle?
The Kennel Club has summarised a few breeds and lifestyle pairings that work well together:
- City + have children + able to give lots of exercise = Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- City + no children + able to give a fair amount of exercise = Greyhound
- City + have children + breed that doesn’t need hours of exercise ie. up to an hour a day = Bichon Frise
- City + no children + breed that doesn’t need hours of exercise ie. up to an hour a day = Chihuahua
- Country + have children + able to give lots of exercise ie. up to two hours = Golden Retriever
- Country + have children + breed that doesn’t need hours of exercise ie. up to an hour a day = Bearded Collie
- Country + no children + able to give lots of exercise ie. up to two hours = Cocker Spaniel
- Country + no children + breed that doesn’t need hours of exercise ie. up to an hour a day = Border Terrier
How to catch up on Crufts 2024
If you missed the action from this years Crufts.
You can head over to the to watch the full live stream from each day.
If you would prefer to watch highlights, head over to Channel 4’s website and search Crufts.
Watson’s Legacy win flyball final
Watson’s Legacy have taken down the defending champions, Road Runners Beep Beep, to win the flyball title.
The team of Border Collies won 2-0 in another upset, with Road Runners Beep Beep suffering a poor start in the first race and a fault in the second.
Who were the finalists for Best in Show?
The finalists for the Best in Show for Crufts 2024 were:
- Utility: French Bulldog – Elton
- Toy Group: Papillon – Rafa
- Gundog: Weimaraner – Hendricks
- Pastoral: Australian Shepherd – Viking
- Working: Leonberger – Neville
- Terrier: Jack Russell – Zen
- Hound: Grand Basset – Get Me
Protesters invade showground
The Crufts crowd reportedly jeered and shouted "Get out!" after one of the protesters stormed onto the showground.
Security guards were seen forcefully pulling a man and a woman out of the arena.
This year's competition was overshadowed by an "appalling" competition on Day 2 - with the RSPCA making a complaint.
The animal charity slammed Crufts after a French Bulldog swept a number of awards.
A spokesperson said: "We are so disappointed that a French bulldog with a short muzzle and pinched nostrils was awarded Best in Breed at Crufts.
"We should not be celebrating these traits which can cause suffering."
Huge shake-up for 2025 series
There will be a huge shake-up to Cruft's competition next year after animal cruelty backlash from fans.
After defending its practices in a lengthy statement to The Sun, Crufts has now changed its policies for next year after receiving criticism of animal cruelty.
'He always gives me everything'
The co-owner of last night's Best in Show winner gave an emotional interview following the announcement.
An emotional Raymond told presenter Clare Balding after the win: "I think we all dream of winning Best in Show at Crufts.”
“He always gives me everything,” she added. “I have loved every minute of it. Thanks to everyone who supported me."
Another year over...
Crufts 2024 has been pas-some!!!
This year's event has seen some spectacular displays and you can catch up on all of the action via Channel 4’s website.
Fans watched on in delight last night as the Australian Shepherd named Viking walked away with the Best in Show trophy.
BBC dropped Crufts in 2008
The BBC dropped Crufts from its schedule in 2008, two years before its contract to air the competition ended.
It made the decision after a BBC investigation “found dogs on show suffer from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding”.
The BBC that the Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, could not comply with its request for particular breeds to be excluded.
A short history of Crufts
Crufts is named after it’s founder Charles Crufts, who travelled around other UK dog shows selling biscuits in the later 1800s.
In 1891, the first Cruft’s Greatest Dog Show was held in Islington, London.
The Covid pandemic saw 2021’s show cancelled for the first time since 1954.
The show finally returned in 2022 after one year off.
Which dog won Crufts 2023?
Orca the lagotto romagnolo scooped Best In Show at Crufts 2023, making history as the first of its breed to win the award.
One of Orca’s owners, Ante Lucin, said: “This is the first lagotto romagnolo to win at Crufts, so this is so great for the breed.”
Crufts 2023 started on March 9, and ended on March 12.
The Best In Show competition is hugely popular and has been running since 1928.
