More than 24,000 canines and their owners were starting to converge on Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre today for the 101st Crufts dog show.
The Kennel Club hopes a record 130,000 enthusiasts will visit the Birmingham venue for the four-day event, regarded as the world's most prestigious dog show.
The extravaganza culminates on Sunday in the contest to find the dog judged Best-in-Show.
The event will also see dogs striving to gain awards in disciplines such as obedience, agility and flyball.
A Kennel Club spokesman said: "We are expecting more visitors than last year and the event just gets bigger and bigger.
