The final of the Royal Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition will take place at Crufts on Thursday 5 March 2026 at the NEC Birmingham. The event will be judged by John Thirlwell who is qualified to judge more than 40 breeds at Challenge Certificate level, and is also a Hound, Gundog and Best in Show judge.
Sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, the competition sees teams earning points at group and general championship shows throughout 2025. Our Dogs, the weekly canine newspaper supports the event, including compiling the results. Each breeder team comprises of three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding partnership.
The 40 qualifying teams confirmed as competing at Crufts 2026 will be:
1 Ms R Bailey (Akna) Canadian Eskimo Dog
2 Miss S M Atkins (Qimugta) Canadian Eskimo Dog
3 Mrs S Tempest (Adoreadane) Great Dane
4 Mr D & Mrs A Duff (Titanbears) Newfoundland
5 Mr G J & Mrs T A & Misses E G & F L Coldwell (Zentaur) Newfoundland
6 Mrs R J & Mr D A Simms (Arcticskies) Siberian Husky
7 Mrs K Hughes (Siberiadrift) Siberian Husky
8 Mr N & Mrs L Bevis (Beabeardies) Bearded Collie
9 Mr G T & Mrs C Foster (Fostebrie) Briard
10 Mrs T L Jackson (Elbereth) Finnish Lapphund
11 Mrs D L Felstead (Foveaux) Lancashire Heeler
12 Mr S C & Mrs L A Naylor (Skaijak) Polish Lowland Sheepdog
13 Miss S Linney (Aescwine) Swedish Vallhund
14 Mrs K Warner (Monarchcor) Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
15 Mrs S E & Mr M D Baldwin (Woolytop) Bedlington Terrier
16 Miss A Hannington (Boudivella) Glen Of Imaal Terrier
17 Mrs R Gee (Watercroft) Norfolk Terrier
18 Mr C W & Mrs C L Satherley (Silkcroft) Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
19 Mrs S Dunsdon (Mawali) Basenji
20 Mr C Middleton (Caelestibleu) Basset Blue De Gascoigne
21 Ms J Taylor (Amenediels) Bavarian Mountain Hound
22 Miss S Clark (Farlap) Bloodhound
23 Mrs A McAlpine (Humbiehounds) Deerhound
24 Mr J & Mrs S Briant & Mr P Routledge (Sufayre) Hamiltonstovare
25 Miss C Farrar (Henissy) Harrier
26 Miss W Heather (Whiteorchard) Irish Wolfhound
27 Mr J Winkley-Balmer (Edenwhip) Whippet
28 Mrs V Schfaild (Vickvally) Boston Terrier
29 Miss S Roberts (Marbledale) Lhasa Apso
30 Ms A McDonald (Balgay) Tibetan Spaniel
31 Mrs H Wright (Sangrereal) Xoloitzcuintle
32 Mrs Z Phillips (Ettology) English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)
33 Mrs L & Mr G Dixon (Lasagesse) English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)
34 Mrs A L Cawthera-Purdy (Lireva) Pomeranian
35 Mesdames D Clubb & C Mason (Oroshaza) Hungarian Vizsla
36 Mr S & Mrs K M Challis (Vizslanya) Hungarian Vizsla
37 Miss K L Watts & Mr I S Lawrence (Oakmarsh) Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)
38 Mrs J B Campbell (Ronevorg) Retriever (Flat Coated)
39 Mrs T & Miss S Westwood (Eusanit) Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
40 Mrs A R Chandler (Chanangel) Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
The Royal Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition will be pre-judged in the Forum Live Hall at 2pm followed by the final in the bp pulse LIVE arena at 6pm on Thursday 5 March 2026. This event is just one of the many exciting activities taking place at Crufts from 5 - 8 March 2026.
Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “The Royal Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition is always a spectacular sight with breeders’ teams from all seven groups competing in the arena. It’s the perfect spotlight to showcase pedigree dogs and the work done by breeders to promote their breeds and stockmanship.”
Sarah White, Breeder Channel Manager at Agria Pet Insurance, added: “The Breeders’ competition is truly the jewel in the showing world. Seeing all the different teams competing at qualifying championship shows throughout the year has been thrilling, and with the exciting final now upon us, we extend our thanks to all the breeders who took part. Best of luck to everyone competing.”