Now Hatch, who was on board the Mary Rose when she sank in 1545, is to get a national audience.

The world's oldest sea dog is being unveiled for the first time at the famous Crufts dog show in Birmingham.

John Lippiett, chief executive of the Mary Rose Trust, will appear with the skeleton of the female dog, whose remains were found when the ship was discovered in the Solent.

Rear Admiral Lippiett said: 'Hatch is fast becoming one of our most talked- about exhibits because people can identify with dogs so readily.

'When she was first found her skeleton was in hundreds of pieces so it wasn't that eye-catching for the divers, but now she is one piece you can visualise her on board.'

The almost complete skeleton of the small dog was recovered near the doorway of the carpenter's cabin. This had a sliding door, which has led Mary Rose Trust experts to believe that she may have been trapped as the Mary Rose keeled over and sank.

Hatch was a healthy, young bitch, between eighteen months and two years old.

Rr Adm Lippiett said: 'We think she may have been on the ship as a mascot or a pet, perhaps the carpenter's dog.

'She certainly would have helped get rid of the rats.'

She will go on display at the Crufts dog show in Birmingham today and will stay there until Sunday.

From then she will return to Portsmouth to take up permanent home in the Mary Rose Museum for the first time.

Rr Adm Lippiett said the trust was on course to reach its fundraising target for the new museum, adding: 'In the past fortnight we have received another £250,000 grant so we are confident, but we still need people to dig deep and help us.'

For information visit maryrose500.org