The death of three-year-old Jagger rocked Britain's
Crufts show, held annually since the reign of Queen Victoria, and unnerved a dog-showing world that some fear may have just become too competitive.
Make no mistake,
Crufts isn't all about the best-looking pooches in town - there are the dog agility stars, the hero dogs in the Friends for Life competition, the skillful gun dogs; not to mention the shopping!
"Although it was a very different event in 1891, Charles
Cruft was a great showman and would surely have enjoyed the size and scope of the event today, which is an essential date in any dog lover's calendar."
Originally known as
Cruft's, the dog show became
Crufts in 1974 when a rebranding exercise deemed the apostrophe surplus to requirements.
Yorkshire Terriers ready for judging "Pentrevach of Perrywee" - a chihuahua - at
Crufts 'reading' a book in February 1958
MORE than 27,000 dogs are taking part in this year's
Crufts dog show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, which runs until tomorrow.
Sealyham Terrier Charmin with the
Cruft's Best in Show trophy, at the NEC, in Birmingham, following his victory yesterday Picture: RUI VIEIRA
Charles
Cruft It led to him taking over the management of the Allied Terrier Club Show at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster back in Britain and later holding the first
Cruft's show at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington in 1891.
IT is the biggest and most famous competition in the canine world - and it returns to Birmingham next week
Crufts has been running since 1891, moving from London to Birmingham's NEC for its centenary in 1991.
Watch our video to see TV star Mark Wright, and world famous double act Ashleigh and Pudsey, as they visits
Crufts 2016
In 1891
Cruft modestly decided to add his name to the rapidly growing show and the world famous event was born.