Whippet called Miuccia wins best in show at Crufts

At the 2025 Crufts dog show held in Birmingham, England, Miuccia, a Whippet from Venice, Italy, was crowned Best in Show.

The four-year-old Miuccia triumphed over more than 18,000 competing dogs from around the world to claim the title on Sunday at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). This marks the first time an Italian dog has won the prestigious award, with prizes including a trophy and a modest cash reward reportedly around £200.

Miuccia's handler, Giovanni Liguori, stated, "This is a dream come true, and I am incredibly excited. Miuccia performed exceptionally well." Owned by Enrico De Gaspari, Miuccia had previously won the Hound Group and then defeated the champions of the other six groups in the final to ultimately win Best in Show.

Mr. Liguori said, "I love her very much, she is a very lovely dog. She always wants to be close to me, and that's the most important thing." He also expressed that being the first Italian dog to win Best in Show at Crufts is "unbelievable, fantastic. As Italians, we are very proud, and it means we are doing very well."

Helen Kerfoot, Crufts Show Manager, said it was "fantastic" to see the "strong relationship" that Miuccia and her handler demonstrated in the ring, adding that "they are very deserving winners. Congratulations to all our other wonderful finalists. The dogs, owners and handlers should all be incredibly proud to have taken part in such an important final – it’s an amazing achievement and we’re sure they’ll treasure it for years to come." Viking, a Tibetan Mastiff from Romania, was named Reserve Best in Show.