A four-year-old clumber spaniel named Bruin has been crowned best in show at Crufts 2026, held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Owner Lee Cox described his dog as 'a dog of a lifetime' after the victory, which was met with loud cheers from the audience.
'It's just amazing,' said Cox. 'I can't believe it. It's just wonderful for this breed. For the first time in my life, I'm speechless.' He added that Bruin is 'a bit of a diva' but 'would never, ever let me down.'
The competition, which began on Thursday, concluded on Sunday evening with more than 18,600 dogs taking part. This year's event set a record for international entries, with 4,299 dogs travelling from overseas. The reserve best in show was Meghan, a petit basset griffon vendéen.
Bruin's breed, the clumber spaniel, is officially classed as a 'vulnerable native breed' by the Kennel Club, with fewer than 300 puppies registered each year. Last year's winner was Miuccia, a whippet from Venice, marking the first time a dog from Italy won the show.
