Anything For Animals

posted by admin on May 20

Scruffts is the alternative dog show - where there isn’t a pedigree dog in sight!

Take your shaggy hound or your short-haired long-legged crossbreed along to the heats - and you could be best in show! There are heats across the country throughout the year, and the final is held at Discover Dogs in November 2010.

You could be there!

There are 4 classes for you to enter, and of course you need to make sure that your dog qualifies for Scruffts in the first place, and then each of the classes.

Your Dog:
For obvious reason your dog can’t be a pedigree dog - as that is what Crufts is for! - but your dog does need to be a ‘crossbreed’ rather than just a ‘mongrel’.  The difference being that a mongrel is a dog of unknown parentage - whereas according to the official definition - “A Crossbreed dog is a dog of mixed blood, whose parents are of two different breeds, or a mixture of several breeds” - taken from the official Kennel Club ‘Scruffts’ Website.

Yes, Scruffts is also run by the Kennel Club (as is Crufts) and they are very strict on the rules here too! So you need to deal with them in a professional manner and act according to their rules and regulations - like your dog being at least 6 months old for starters!

You don’t need to have your dog registered with the Kennel Club before you can enter the 2010 Heats for Scruffts, so just get started by finding out where your local heats are being held - take your £1 entry fee - and get started!

The Classes:
There are 4 basic classes for the competition, with the winners from each class, going on to the overall final:  The Scruffts Champion!

Your dog will not be eligible for all the classes as they are covering different things, and your choice are really limited to the age and sex of your dog.

Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog
Males Crossbreeds over 6 months but under 7 years of age.  Any handler.

Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch
Female Crossbreeds over 6 months but under 7 years. Any handler.

Child’s Best Friend
Any Dog or Bitch over 6 months but under 12 years. Handler must be between 6 and 16 years old.

Golden Oldie Crossbreed
Any Dog or Bitch 8 years and over.  Any handler. 

What Are They Judged On?
It is important to realise that they are not being judged on bone structure and how they hold their tail - like at Crufts, they are being judged on their ability to be a great dog!

For example, the judges will be looking for Good Health, Good Character and Good Temperament with other people and dogs!

So as long as your dog is perfectly turned out, full of beans and very friendly - then you are in with a good chance of winning - and 1st, 2nd and 3rd places of each heat win a rosette - and although only the winner is guaranteed a place in the Scruffts final, if they can’t make it the runners-up could be asked to attend instead!

So you could come third in the heat - but still win the show!

Get Going!
The heats are already underway for the 2010 competition - so get straight to the official Heat Website, and find out if you still have time to prepare for the show!

Buy a new collar and lead, give the dog a trim or a shampoo, cut those nails and dig out your best outfit as well!

Good Luck!