Many pedigree dogs entered at Crufts are obese, vets have said.
The world's leading dog show may be setting a bad example to other owners who see the pedigree entrants as ideal, they state.
Researchers at Liverpool University looked at 1,120 images of dogs placed between first and fifth at the show, focusing on breeds that have a propensity for being overweight - pugs, basset hounds and labradors.
Three-quarters were in "ideal condition" but 26 per cent were assessed as overweight, the research published in Veterinary Record found.
Dr Alex German, from the university's School of Veterinary Science, said: "Show dogs are assumed to be perfect specimens of their breed and, if significant numbers are overweight, this may 'normalise' obesity in the eyes of the public."
