Crufts 2025: Insights from Charlie, Head of Ops at Pets4Homes
Hello breeders,
I'm back from my very first time at Crufts 2025: four days of pure dog-loving excitement! As the world’s biggest dog show, it's a unique celebration that gathered over 150,000 visitors, 20,000 competing dogs, and a wide array of businesses showcasing the latest in canine care, training, and responsible breeding.
For those who couldn't attend, here’s an exclusive look at what I saw, heard, and learnt — including invaluable feedback from you dedicated breeders!
Passionate Breeders at Crufts
The breeders present at Crufts truly embody dedication and love for pedigree dogs in the UK. It was inspiring to see countless dog enthusiasts exploring the Discover Dogs section, meeting over 200 pedigree breeds, and engaging with breed clubs and reputable breeders. This helped promote responsible dog ownership by educating potential owners and ensuring they're well-informed before welcoming a new dog into their family.
At the Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition final, 40 exceptional breeders competed with their well-prepared teams, demonstrating high standards of care, health, and socialisation. Congratulations to Rachel Salter of Irisaddition Kennels, who won the prestigious title of the UK's best dog breeder with her team of Bearded Collies — a breed known for its affectionate nature and intelligence.
Valuable Feedback for Pets4Homes
During this event, many breeders shared practical thoughts on improving Pets4Homes. Here are the key highlights:
- Pet Payments: Users appreciate the review feature but seek more flexibility, such as using free boosts on future litters if the current one is sold earlier.
- Waiting Lists: Breeders would welcome a waitlist option to match soon-to-be-born puppies with suitable homes beforehand, ensuring committed and prepared owners.
- Breeder Profiles: There is a strong desire for enhanced profiles, showcasing experience, qualifications, and socialisation efforts. Publicly displaying licensing information, including 5-star ratings and official documents, was a popular suggestion to bolster buyer confidence.
- Vetting Buyers: Safety remains a top concern. Many breeders feel uneasy about sharing personal details with strangers and have shared stories of theft attempts. Screening buyers before personal information disclosure would greatly enhance breeder peace of mind.
I will relay these thoughtful suggestions to our product team for consideration as we strive to improve the platform to better serve dedicated breeders and conscientious buyers.
Celebrating Responsible Breeding
Crufts is a brilliant reminder of the passion, knowledge, and care UK breeders have for the dogs they bring into the world. The event highlights the importance of responsible breeding practices that prioritise health, temperament, and ethical standards. Meeting breeders in person and hearing your stories reinforced how vital it is to maintain high standards for the wellbeing of future generations of dogs.
Thank you for your time and insights — your voices help make Pets4Homes a better resource. Until next time,
Charlie
Head of Operations, Pets4Homes
