Pets As Therapy is going to Crufts 2025

Crufts is a celebration of all dogs – and we’re delighted that once again we’ll be attending the event at Birmingham NEC from 6-9 March. Come and say hello to us. We’ll be in Hall 4 at Stand 160.

We're also extremely proud that PAT Team Emily & Tilly are finalists in The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award. This wonderful volunteering duo have been entered under the category ‘Rescue Dog Hero’. Tilly, a chihuahua-terrier cross, was found abandoned with her siblings in a plastic washing basket on a roundabout at only four weeks old. Her chances of survival were pretty bleak, but then she was given a home with Emily.

At nine months old, Tilly was registered with Pets As Therapy and now visits a residential care home and college. Tilly also provides support and comfort to Emily who underwent spinal surgery and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. Tilly is learning to alert Emily about her medical conditions, often helping through behaviour interruption, providing the confidence Emily needs to be able to go about her day-to-day activities.

Some fun Crufts facts

• Last year, over 150,000 visitors attended Crufts – along with over 20,000 four-legged friends.

• The first Crufts took place at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, in 1891.

• The first Best in Show winner was a Greyhound called Primley Sceptre in 1928.

• Crufts is named after its founder, Charles Cruft, a British businessman who was employed as a general manager for a dog biscuit manufacturer.

• The Discover Dogs area of Crufts gives visitors the chance to meet over 200 different dog breeds.

• The Cocker Spaniel has won the most Best in Show titles, with seven wins. The Irish Setter, Poodle and Welsh Terrier have won on four occasions each.

• Golden Retrievers are the most popular breed to enter the Gundog group. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier takes top spot for entries in the Terrier group, with Whippets leading the way in the Hound group.