At the prestigious Crufts 2024 dog show held at the NEC in Birmingham, Australian Shepherd Viking has become the ultimate winner. Hailing from Solihull, United Kingdom, the pup triumphed over dogs from around the globe during the four-day event to win the Best in Show title. He claimed the top honor on Sunday, Mar. 10.
Australian Shepherd Viking crowned Crufts 2024 Best in Show
Viking, an Australian Shepherd from Birmingham, U.K., has emerged as Crufts 2024 winner, The Independent reported. The three-year-old pup outshined a whopping 24,000 canine contenders to claim the coveted Best in Show title. This remarkable achievement marks a proud moment for Viking and his handlers. His co-owners are Melanie Raymond, John Shaw, and Kerry Kirtley.
In addition, the dog had clinched victory in the pastoral group as well. “We all dream of winning best in show at Crufts,” stated Raymond, a third-generation dog breeder.
Upon being asked whether Viking met expectations, Raymond replied in the affirmative. In her words, “He did actually. I should never doubt him because he always gives me everything … He loves every minute of it.”
Meanwhile, Zen, a nine-year-old Jack Russell Terrier from Japan, emerged as the reserve dog. He had previously secured victory in the Terrier group.
On the final day of Crufts, protesters were escorted out of the arena. An activist from PETA attempted to enter the floor while holding a sign that read “Boycott Breeders” and was subsequently removed by security.
According to a spokesperson for The Kennel Club, Crufts serves as an invaluable platform for educating millions of visitors and Channel 4 viewers, contrary to PETA’s allegations of exacerbating the homeless dog crisis. It aims to guide individuals in finding the right dog for their lifestyle.
They further noted, “We celebrated hundreds of rescue dogs at Crufts this year, and have a dedicated rescue dog area, as well our Discover Dogs zone, which help would-be owners to find the right dog or puppy for them and make responsible choices about this life-long decision.”
