This is a new competition which is being launched at crufts this year.

Anyone who thinks their dog has a special talent can submit a video clip  to the kennel club via youtube and these will be judged by a panel and the winner announced in the main arena on the final day. Launching of this will be done by the lady who took part in Britains got talent,last year with her singing shitszu.

Not sure what I think about this really,as it seems a bit gimmicky to me and a dilution of what crufts is all about,ie showing dogs.

While I fully endorse people having fun with their dogs and doing training together is crufts the right place for such a competition?

I know several people who tell me to my face how they don't approve of showing dogs but then they still go to crufts every year to watch the agility or do shopping etc. I point out to them that this is double standards as crufts is all about showing dogs and not a side show for agility etc and if they feel that strongly about show dogs then they should stay away!

I feel well within my rights to say this as I also compete in kc agility events and infact having been doing that for longer than showing.

Now must remember to film my dogs  next christmas when they manage to scale to the top of the christmas tree and suck the contents out of the choccy decorations,and leave the intact foil still in place on the tree. Now that's real talent!!

In what way do you think it diminishes showing?
It seems to me that the people you know that have a bad opinion of showing are more likely to become more aware of what it is all about if they are encouraged to come along than ever they would being kept away.

The people I know who are anti showing already go to crufts anyway so they are unlikely to change their minds because of this competition.

As  I said I'm all for people doing things with their dogs etc but just not sure if crufts is the right place for such a competion but then I will not dismiss it outright until I have seen the results for myself.

I don't think you are going to see any results from introducing another activity at Cruftsbut I do think Crufts is a great place to engage with the public and promote every aspect of dogs and the benefits that can bring to our lives. 
I can't see why that should diminish the showing side, far from it, many of the visitors would never see what show dogs and their lives were like and would only be left with the hype the press and media presents to them.

I think Crufts has evolved over the years and it has not been just a dog show for a long time. So I see nothing wrong with anything else being introduced. The one problem I can see is that I don't think your average pet dog that does a funny trick at home will cope with the main ring at Crufts. Chances are they end up with four dogs refusing to do anything.

They have something along these lines most years, often with a tie in to another company, a few years back when the disney film "Lady & the Tramp" was remastered and reissued the KC and Disney teamed up for an "Lookalike" competition, with online voting, and the winners got to Crufts to be judged by Ben Fogle.

Actually if you show your dogs and do a video of your dogs on how they look when they are not being shown I think all it will do will help.  Especially if they are like mine who when not being shown are swimming, running and rolling in mud and having a fantastic time.

Sadly people outside of the show world think our dogs are stuck in a room, not seeing the outside world so they are kept lovely and clean.  If only they could see and my dogs most week days covered in mud!

Actually if you show your dogs and do a video of your dogs on how they look when they are not being shown I think all it will do will help.  Especially if they are like mine who when not being shown are swimming, running and rolling in mud and having a fantastic time.

Yes but swimming, rolling in mud etc is not a talent or trick -it's what dogs do.

PDAE I wish we had a like button !!! Show Dogs mine often roll in something stinky as well as mud.

Crufts is not just about showing. Obedience, Flyball, Agility, and other dog activities are on at Crufts, so another item for the main ring wouldn't make a difference. Why not let the GP see that dogs can do more at Crufts? I would think it is a good place to start a PR stint.

The KC are already running an initiative for this, they asked for photos and videos of show dogs who do other activities, and the Pugility Pugs are taking part in the study.