Participants will be hoping to achieve the top accolade, best in show, currently held by reigning champion Knopa, a Scottish terrier, but will have tough competition.

Canines compete in eight different categories: hound breeds, gundog breeds, terrier breeds, utility breeds, working breeds, pastoral breeds and toy breeds.

The show has not been without controversy, however, and critics have rounded on organisers over animal welfare issues, especially excessive inbreeding - in 2008 the BBC stopped broadcasting the show after concerns were raised.

Long days await competitors who are expected to arrive at the exhibition centre at 8.30am and judging continues until 9pm. The show will close for another year this Sunday.

A man walked his two pugs outside the NEC in Birmingham, just one of the hundreds of breeds expected at the show

Mable the Manchester Terrier was wrapped up warm against the cold in a yellow knitted hat before entering the show

Four perfectly-groomed Japanese Shiba Inu dogs were kept on leads by their owner, who had brought a variety of accessories