Mine has to be the Irish setter who won in 1993....or maybe the Basenji from 2001

They were lovely dogs....

Lisa

No disrespect to poodle owners I have seen some nice ones. I do ask myself this though why did that poodle win crufts last year?? This is purely my opinion and please don't shout at me for it but, I just can't understand why people shave half the fur off, maybe i'm missing the obvious, when i saw this dog last year what sprung to mind was the owner has failed hairdressing school.

Alison
Just my humble opinion

Hiya Alison.....

I know what you mean...they're not my favourite breed, and I really hate the way the owners shave them....but then I dislike anything like that, I don't like little yorkies with those red bows on their heads either!! But thats just my opinion.

I do think though, that the poodle that won had real star quality, the way he trotted round that ring like he owned it...He deserved to win!!

Lisa :)

Hiya,
From what I understand, poodles are water-dogs originally (I'm going back several hundred years here), and too much coat hindered this. So coat was removed, but left on at the joints to protect these from the cold water. Of course, if the coat isn't brushed out as it's dried it won't "fluff" so you get more of the original look of the breed.

I would be really happy if the newfoundland wins it this year he was amazing:)
Alison

The newfie is lovely......I want that dog!! :)

Can't wait to see what else is going to be competing for BIS....

What is it about Crufts? I'm just so excited!!
We were there today (not showing) just watching the GSD classes. The atmosphere was great, we saw some lovely dogs and spoke to some really nice people.
Also, my brothers Girlfriends Dad got a 1st and 2nd with his Pyrenean Mountain dog....We're so happy for him, this is his first year showing!! :D
So you can imagine, he's over the moon!!

Talk soon....

Take care all

(a very excited) Lisa :D

Lisa you should have got one of the champdogs badges- we've probably walked past each other round the GSD ring:)

Stacey x x x

Stacey......

I wanted to get one, but I only read about them on Thursday..

How annoying......I'd have loved to have met you there, and you know, I bet we did walk past each other loads of times. I was round there most of the day. Arghh!!

Lisa :D

I bet any money we have walked past each other:D I was there mainly in the afternoon- I was there in the morning too but kept too-ing and fro-ing if you know what I mean:) We even went in the restaurant next to the ring for our lunch:) I was there all the time for the bitches though:) Oh well maybe one day eh;)

Stacey x x x

stacey...we went in there for our lunch too!! :D

Jeangenie,

You are right to say that poodles were originally working dogs, required to retrieve birds from water. The coat was removed from the body to make them more streamlined in the water. The show ring hair-do is just an evolution from this. You may be interested to see some photos of working poodles in USA!!! It proves that they can be very intelligent and highly trainable. Don't they look proud carrying their pheasants!? :)

Photos of Working Poodles

Best wishes, Monty's Mum :)

Montys Mum...

I've heard that the standard poodle is really intelligent....

Aren't they also used as police dogs in France? I think maybe I misjudged this breed slightly.....

Take care

Lisa

I watched it on tv last year. When the judge walked into the ring, (looking like a poodle as I recall) and then they said she was a poodle breeder, there was no question that the poodle would win. She looked like a 'poodle person'. I liked the flat-coat myself.

Sarah

as a bulldog owner there can be only one winner for me. lol.

Ch. Viscount Grant (Afghan, 1987ish?) going around that big ring was real 'hairs on the back of your neck' stuff!

M.

As a whippet owner, it would be the whippet that won in 1992, my dog's great grandparent.
I thought the greyhound should have won this year but then I have a soft spot for sighthounds. I knew he wouldn't though as the judge hardly looked at him. Shame, he was a lovely dog.

Looking at the photo of Bramshaw Bob - the black lab and the fact that his owner is my namesake. At least he looked like a proper working lab. Not the boxy show type. I was watching the judge in the BOB finals and she barely glanced at the FT class winner, my choice over all the others!
Lorna

I'm with you all the way, Lorna - we only saw one nice lab, and he was in the Field Trials!

Glad I'm not the only one then JG. They must have changed the breed standard since the 1930's.
Lorna

That's what the chap with the nice lab said - they changed the standard to fit the dogs, rather than breeding dogs to fit the standard :( None of the show-type labs looked as if they could clear a 5-bar gate carrying a pheasant - some of them had such short muzzles I don't think they could have even carried the pheasant!

I have only seen pictures of this dog but no gsd seems to get into the final line up any more maybe nothing compares to "Ramacon Swash Buckler" a lovely dog, maybe we will see a shep get into the final line up one year.

My fav was also the afghan but then having an afghan i'm a bit biased, but must admit loved the poodle last year he went round the ring like he owned it, and yes they are very intelligent and very trainable a friend had a black standard poodle not only as a show dog but also did obedience with him and he excelled at this he was also clipped in the lion cut which is my fav trim for a poodle

tommy gun :)