AFTER months of training and hours of grooming, scores of Hampshire’s hounds were today at the world’s most prestigious dog show hoping to be crowned top dog.

Pampered pooches from across the county have gone walkies all the way to Birmingham to take part in Crufts, which started today.

Maggie and Dave Cole from Eastleigh are just one couple who have dedicated their lives to showing their beloved Newfoundland dogs.

This year five-year-old Hugo Boss, show name Powerhouse Hugo Boss for Kodiak, will take to the ring with high hopes of improving on his previous successes.

Maggie, 60, said: “Hugo was the top ranking British Newfoundland last year, he is always so successful in competitions.

He just comes alive at Crufts, he absolutely loves it, we would not be able to show him if he didn’t.’’ Another devoted dog owner at Crufts today was Christina Bailey, who has her work cut out with five of her Old English Sheepdogs competing.

Christina is a Crufts veteran with 24 years’ experience of the competition but hopes that Curtis, Mona, Bond, Christi and Bronte, will make it her most successful year yet.

“Of course we are going with high hopes but at the end of the day we always go home with the best dog”, said Christina, from Romsey.

Young Honey, however, is aiming to prove that when it comes to being top dog, youth and exuberance is as valuable as experience.

The one-year-old Boxer pup, from Chandler’s Ford, is at her first Crufts, with owner Pam Freeman.

Pam, who has been going to Crufts for the past 30 years, said: “Honey loves all the attention and fussing around. It is really exciting and such a proud moment. It is like any hobby, you are always aiming higher to try and be better than before.”

● Crufts will run over the next four days at the NEC in Birmingham, with the best in show announced on Sunday