Crufts 2016 gets under way with a special stand to 'meet and greet' the Dogs of Instagram (3)

Admitting she has been surprised at the level of public reaction to posts on the @brunotheminidachshund account, Ms Sanders added: 'Sometimes I put up a photo and it's just a photo of him in our house and it gets thousands of 'likes'.

'A lot of people have bought tickets and been to see him and so far he seems to be enjoying himself.'

However, it wasn't just about the well-known faces of the Dogs of Instagram.

The planet's biggest dog show, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary and is being billed as the most spectacular show of its kind, is expecting 22,000 canines from 47 countries around the world.

Founded by Charles Cruft in 1891, the first show attracted just 2,437 dogs.

A Pomeranian named Pepper during day one of the four day event, which attracts entrants from almost 50 countries

Dalmations sit in their stalls on the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham