Four-year-old clumber spaniel called Bruin wins best in show at Crufts

Owner Lee Cox describes the winner as ‘dog of a lifetime’ as he claims the crown at prestigious dog contest

Bruin, a clumber spaniel, has won the best in show prize at Crufts, which took place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

His owner, Lee Cox, described the four-year-old Bruin as “a dog of a lifetime” as he won the competition and was met with roaring cheers from the audience.

“It’s just amazing,” Cox said. “I can’t believe it. It’s just wonderful for this breed. For the first time in my life, I’m speechless.

“He’s a dog of a lifetime … he’s just wonderful. He’s a bit of a diva, a bit like me, he likes to have his own way. He’s very chilled but would never, ever let me down.”

The dog contest, which has been taking place at Birmingham’s NEC since Thursday, concluded on Sunday evening after crowning the best pooch of 2026.

This year more than 18,600 dogs took part in the contest, which attracts participants from around the UK and the world. This year’s event broke records for international entries, with 4,299 dogs travelling from overseas.

The winner of the best in show category is awarded by expert judges and decided between the winning dogs of the group categories – working, pastoral, terrier, hound, toy, utility and gundog.

The top dog is determined by its health, structure, movement and temperament. The reserve best in show of 2026 was Meghan, a petit basset griffon vendéen.

The other dogs competing for the top spot were Viking, a Tibetan mastiff, the winner of the working group, and Hazel, a Welsh corgi, who won the pastoral group. Dublin, a cavalier King Charles spaniel, took the top spot in the toy dog category, while Freddie the lakeland terrier won the veteran dog competition.

Bruin’s breed, the clumber spaniel, is officially classed as a “vulnerable native breed” by the Kennel Club. There are fewer than 300 puppies registered each year.

Fans of Crufts have been congratulating Bruin and Cox on social media. One user wrote on Instagram: “Yay!!! So happy to see a clumber win Crufts! Congratulations to Bruin.”

Another said: “So pleased for this breed getting recognition – gorgeous dog and down to earth owner.”

Last year’s best in show winner was Miuccia, a whippet from Venice, who beat almost 18,000 dogs for the top spot. It marked the first time a dog from Italy won the show.

In addition to the breed judging and top dog competition, Crufts has other competitions including an agility course, an obedience contest and a relay race known as flyball. There is also a dance competition where dogs and their handlers perform a choreographed routine to music, and a competition for young dog lovers.

Crufts was started in 1891 by Charles Cruft. The show was inspired by his role as the general manager for a dog biscuit manufacturer, where he had to travel around the world to attend dog shows.

Since then, Crufts has gained popularity and is now considered one of the biggest dog shows in the world. It continued during the first and second world wars.