Locations – Westminster is in New York City, and Crufts in Birmingham UK

Westminster is the biggest dog show in North America, while Crufts is one of the biggest dog shows in the world

2014 was the 138th year for Westminster, and Crufts, started in 1891, and in 1942 it first showed under Kennel club banner. It did not run during the war years.

Westminster takes place for 2 days n February and Crufts is 4 days in March.

Breed standards are different, the judging is different and the groups are slightly different.

Ear cropping and tail docking, both considered a cosmetic surgery on dogs, are considered differently in North America versus UK (that is another topic for later so I will hold back my rant)

The groups are:

At Westminster                                at Crufts        winner 2014     Westminster                      Crufts

Hound                                                  Hound                         Bloodhound               Irish wolfhound

Toy                                                        Toy                           Miniature Pinscher    Pomeranian      

Non sporting                                      Utility                         tandard poodle (white)Standard poodle (black)

Herding                                              Pastoral                       Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Samoyed

Sporting                                               Gun dog        Irish Water Spaniel   American Cocker spaniel

Working                                         working     Portuguese waterdog  Rottweiler                                                                                                                                                                              (Portuguese water dog –reserve

 Terrier                                            Terrier                     wire fox terrier                 wire fox terrier

 

This year Westminster had an agility contest. Crufts has had several such contests for years.

Crufts also had a competition for mix breeds called Scruffts

 

Westminster is presented by the American Kennel Club and Crufts by the Kennel Club

 

A major sponsor of Westminster is Pro plan/Purina and Eukanuba dog food for Crufts.

 

Winner in best in show 2014 was a Standard Poodle at Crufts, and reserve best in show was a Samoyed.

And a wire fox terrier was the winner at Westminster, while the reserve best in show was a white Standard Poodle

 

Go and take a look at these dogs at the web sites for the shows. What dogs!

Source of reference

http://www.crufts.org.uk/

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2014/show/info.html