Thursday 10 March 2022

Canine catwalk! Crufts hopefuls arrive in leopard print onesies and colourful booties as the world's biggest dog show returns to Birmingham after a two-year hiatus caused by Covid

 

  • Adorable pooches arrived at biggest dog show in the world today in Birmingham
  • Among the early arrivals was Susan Reilly and her Pyrenean Mountain Dog Boris
  • Show returns this year after being cancelled in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic

Dog owners have showed off their adorable pooches in Birmingham today as they prepare to compete at Crufts 2022. 

Canines ready to walk the catwalk arrived in leopard print onesies and colourful rain boots as they braved the weather to head to the world's biggest dog show at the National Exhibition Centre.

Owners and pets and will see canines from around the world will compete in agility and obedience competitions over the next three days with one pooch being named best in show on Sunday. 

Among the early arrivals was Susan Reilly who stuck up a very cute pose with her  Pyrenean Mountain Dog called Boris outside the NEC.

The giant dog - who is more than 6ft tall and adorably had a neckerchief with 'Boris Bear' embroidered on it - towered over his owner as he stood up on his back legs to hug her. 

An Old English Sheepdog is inspected in Birmingham today as the dog competed at Crufts

An Old English Sheepdog is inspected in Birmingham today as the dog competed at Crufts

Taking a break! A pair of Bullmastiffs are seen relaxing during day one of the competition

Taking a break! A pair of Bullmastiffs are seen relaxing during day one of the competition

Working it! A pair of Russian Black Terriers arrive for the first day of the Crufts dog show

Working it! A pair of Russian Black Terriers arrive for the first day of the Crufts dog show

A Great Dane looks on during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show
Another dog sits patiently, pictured

Waiting their turn! A Great Dane looks on during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show, pictured left, while another dog sits patiently, right

Getting ready! A man brushes his Samoyed when attending the competition in Birmingham

Getting ready! A man brushes his Samoyed when attending the competition in Birmingham

Prince Michael of Kent (pictured left and right) attends the competition in Birmingham today to meet the adorable dogs
Prince Michael of Kent at day one of Crufts 2022

Prince Michael of Kent (pictured left and right) attends the competition in Birmingham today to meet the adorable dogs

Preparing: An owner brushes her Pembroke Welsh Corgi when attending day one of the event

Preparing: An owner brushes her Pembroke Welsh Corgi when attending day one of the event

Making friends! Prince Michael of Kent catches the attention of a Great Dane when inspecting the dogs on display

Making friends! Prince Michael of Kent catches the attention of a Great Dane when inspecting the dogs on display

Susan Reilly and her Pyrenean Mountain Dog called Boris during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre

Susan Reilly and her Pyrenean Mountain Dog called Boris during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre

Pairs of dogs appeared to be the fashion of the day, with one woman spotted walking two Miniature Poodles in leopard print pyjamas

Pairs of dogs appeared to be the fashion of the day, with one woman spotted walking two Miniature Poodles in leopard print pyjamas

Twice as nice! Sweet bearded collies were also spotted entering the exhibition centre

Twice as nice! Sweet bearded collies were also spotted entering the exhibition centre

Keeping his feet warm! One adorable pooch wore little rainboots to protect himself from the Birmingham weather

Keeping his feet warm! One adorable pooch wore little rainboots to protect himself from the Birmingham weather 

Two Samoyeds looked adorable in a cage as they got ready to compete for Best in Show

Two Samoyeds looked adorable in a cage as they got ready to compete for Best in Show

Owners show their bernese mountain dogs during competition on the first day of the Crufts

Owners show their bernese mountain dogs during competition on the first day of the Crufts

Ready FUR action! Two Tibetan mastiffs look on during the first day of the Crufts

Ready FUR action! Two Tibetan mastiffs look on during the first day of the Crufts

Crufts returns this year after it was cancelled last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 16,000 competitors will take part with one eventually being awarded the Best In Show Trophy

Crufts returns this year after it was cancelled last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 16,000 competitors will take part with one eventually being awarded the Best In Show Trophy

Pyrenean Mountain Dogs head in to the centre ahead of the first events

Pyrenean Mountain Dogs head in to the centre ahead of the first events

A pair of dogue de bordeaux look adorable as they relax before their show

A pair of dogue de bordeaux look adorable as they relax before their show

Dogs and their owners arrive on the first day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre - some walked freely while others were kept in cages before the show

Dogs and their owners arrive on the first day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre - some walked freely while others were kept in cages before the show

Best in Jow! A Newfoundland named Joe is walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Best in Jow! A Newfoundland named Joe is walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Elsewhere, a woman was spotted walking in with two Saint Bernard Dogs who sported fetching black leg warmers covered in multicoloured paw prints

Elsewhere, a woman was spotted walking in with two Saint Bernard Dogs who sported fetching black leg warmers covered in multicoloured paw prints 

It's gonna be great!  A great dane is walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

It's gonna be great!  A great dane is walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Windswept and wonderful! A bearded collie is walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Windswept and wonderful! A bearded collie is walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Elsewhere, a woman was spotted walking in with two Saint Bernard Dogs who sported fetching black leg warmers covered in multicoloured paw prints.

Sweet bearded collies were also spotted entering the exhibition centre, while one dog owner carried her Old English Sheepdog in a crate into the Birmingham arena.

Pairs of dogs appeared to be the fashion of the day, with one woman spotted walking two Miniature Poodles in leopard print pyjamas.

The show returns this year after being cancelled in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Is that you Lassie? Four Rough Collies go for a walk outside the NEC as they gear up to compete

Is that you Lassie? Four Rough Collies go for a walk outside the NEC as they gear up to compete

Two Bernese Mountain dogs go for a stroll with their owner ahead of the big show this weekend

Two Bernese Mountain dogs go for a stroll with their owner ahead of the big show this weekend

A real good pack! Crufts returns this year after it was cancelled last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 16,000 competitors will take part with one eventually being awarded the Best In Show Trophy. Four Huskies are pictured

A real good pack! Crufts returns this year after it was cancelled last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 16,000 competitors will take part with one eventually being awarded the Best In Show Trophy. Four Huskies are pictured

Puparazzi ready! Pooches looked happy to be photographed as they headed into the show

Puparazzi ready! Pooches looked happy to be photographed as they headed into the show

Double trouble! Bearded Collies are blown by the wind as they arrive for the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

No ruff, just ready! Dogs of all breeds from nearly 40 countries are in attendance at the show

No ruff, just ready! Dogs of all breeds from nearly 40 countries are in attendance at the show

Old English sheepdogs are wheeled in a crate into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Old English sheepdogs are wheeled in a crate into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Relaxing before the competition! Old English sheepdogs are wheeled in a crate into the first day of the international event

Relaxing before the competition! Old English sheepdogs are wheeled in a crate into the first day of the international event

A Komondor arrives in a cage on the first day of Crufts and looks ready to spring into action

A Komondor arrives in a cage on the first day of Crufts and looks ready to spring into action

An Old English Sheepdog chews a bone as they sport adorable leg warmers ahead of the show

An Old English Sheepdog chews a bone as they sport adorable leg warmers ahead of the show

A couple of dogue de bordeaux are walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

A couple of dogue de bordeaux are walked into the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

A Hungarian puli inside a crate is taken into the first day of the Crufts at the NEC

A Hungarian puli inside a crate is taken into the first day of the Crufts at the NEC

Looking in good shape! Owner Jim brushes his Bernese Mountain Dog ahead of the competition

Looking in good shape! Owner Jim brushes his Bernese Mountain Dog ahead of the competition

Keeping hydrated: A woman sprays her Newfoundland with water ahead of the big event

Keeping hydrated: A woman sprays her Newfoundland with water ahead of the big event

Say cheese! A woman takes a selfie with her dog as they arrive for the first day of the Crufts dog show

Say cheese! A woman takes a selfie with her dog as they arrive for the first day of the Crufts dog show

On trend: A stylish Xoloitzcuintle dog arrived at the event wearing a stylish check coat

On trend: A stylish Xoloitzcuintle dog arrived at the event wearing a stylish check coat

The Kennel Club said it decided to cancel the event set for July 15-18 because of the 'ongoing uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic' and concerns about the safety of the thousands of participants had prompted the decision. 

The Kennel Club said it took the decision 'with deep regret', but that it was looking 'extremely unlikely' that overseas judges and exhibitors would be able to attend 'in light of recent announcements and the emergence of a third wave of coronavirus in Europe.'

It is the first time the annual event has been cancelled since 1954.

The dog show was one of the last major public events to go ahead in Britain in early March 2020, as fears over virus cases mounted. 

Ready for action! A salivating rottweiler is walked into the first day of Crufts 2022

Ready for action! A salivating rottweiler is walked into the first day of Crufts 2022

A woman holds a shih tzu, on the first day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre

A woman holds a shih tzu, on the first day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre

Susan Reilly and her Pyrenean Mountain Dog called Boris during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Susan Reilly and her Pyrenean Mountain Dog called Boris during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

Baby on board! A very sweet small dog arrives in a pram arrives on the first day of the Crufts

Baby on board! A very sweet small dog arrives in a pram arrives on the first day of the Crufts

A Shih Tzu named King Ellis is carried by his owner Betty as they head to compete in the midlands

A Shih Tzu named King Ellis is carried by his owner Betty as they head to compete in the midlands

Owners brought their dogs in caters, leads and prams as thousands gathered at the NEC

Owners brought their dogs in caters, leads and prams as thousands gathered at the NEC

The competition, which will culminate with the prestigious Best In Show being awarded on Sunday evening. A bearded collie is walked into the first day of the Crufts

The competition, which will culminate with the prestigious Best In Show being awarded on Sunday evening. A bearded collie is walked into the first day of the Crufts

 The show, first held in 1891, has been cancelled three times before: for World War I, World War II and due to strike action by electricians in 1954.  

The competition, which will culminate with the prestigious Best In Show being awarded on Sunday evening.

There are more than 16,000 dogs from from 39 countries competing at the dog show.  

This year’s TV coverage will again be hosted by Clare Balding, Sophie Morgan, and Radzi Chinyanganya.

Looking good! A stunning dog is given a stylish makeover when at the show in Birmingham

Looking good! A stunning dog is given a stylish makeover when at the show in Birmingham

Sharing a kiss! An owner and her dog shared an affectionate cuddle when at the show

Sharing a kiss! An owner and her dog shared an affectionate cuddle when at the show

A man grooms Shetland sheepdogs after they are brought to the first day of the Crufts show

A man grooms Shetland sheepdogs after they are brought to the first day of the Crufts show

An old English sheepdog with their owner during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

An old English sheepdog with their owner during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show

A woman grooms an old English sheepdog during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre

A woman grooms an old English sheepdog during the first day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre



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