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Crufts, The World's Biggest Dog Show, Gets Underway At The NEC Birmingham

Here's What's Happening In Birmingham Right Now
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Almost 5,000 dogs arrived at Crufts on Thursday, many dressed in bibs, snoods and pink sparkly outfits, proving that it is something of a fashion parade. Patterned onesies seem to be the rage this year, with the pedigree pooches wearing them looking bemused.

Caroline Kisko, secretary of the Kennel Club, said they were popular with owners because they "keep them clean". "They tend to wear them on the way in - they don't want the dogs to become filthy," she said. The competition, which runs until Sunday, will see up to 22,000 dogs showing off their glossy coats, perfect appearance and best behaviour. Thursday saw the gundog group, for big, popular family breeds such as labradors, enter the arena. The Best in Show competition takes place on Sunday, the culmination of the dogs' efforts.

Kisko said: "It's very difficult to say what is likely to win or not", adding that current favourites might not even make it through the first stages. On Sunday, an oil painting of last year's supreme champion, a poodle named Afterglow Maverick Sabre (also known as Ricky), will be presented to the chairman of the Kennel Club Arts Foundation. Crufts is being featured on Channel 4 and More4 and is being streamed live on YouTube from the NEC Birmingham.

Crufts 2015
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A springer spaniel looks out from his pen during day one of Crufts 2015 at the NEC, Birmingham. (credit:Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
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Tori, a Bearded Collie who is set to enter the Southern Bitch Open on 06 March at the Crufts Dog Show 2015 hosted by the NEC, Birmingham photographed on 05 March 2015. (credit:Daniel Graves/DPA)
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A man checks his phone between two resting dogs on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A red setter looks out from a booth on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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English Setter siblings sleep in their cages on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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A girl hugs her Golden Retriever dog in its stall on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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Irish Setter dogs sleep in their pens on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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A Gordon Setter dog looks out from its pen on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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English Springer Spaniels sleep in their pen on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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A woman rests with her dog on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A man sits with his dog on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A Golden Retriever sticks its head out from the top of its storage box on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A woman grooms her dog on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A dog rests on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A German Shepherd rests in a booth surrounded by cards from well-wishers on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A man checks his phone as he sits next to his dogs on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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Basset Hounds are pictured on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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A Kennel Club member shows her Welsh Springer Spaniel dog on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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A Pomeranian dog is pictured on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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Lhasa Apso's are pictured on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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An owner cuddles his Russian Borzoi on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A Komondor is pictured on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A competitor gives a treat to his Labrador as they compete on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A Labrador peers from its box on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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A Kennel Club member shows a Spanish Water Dog on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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Weimaraner dogs are pictured in their stalls on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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A Weimaraner dog is pictured in its stall on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 5, 2015. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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