Week 20's Dog of the Week is... Fig

Dog of the Week fans may remember that Week 18 was won by TinTin and Mimi, owned by Katie Maitland and her family. Shortly after they won, Katie wrote in to tell us how delighted she was, but also that her daughter Lucy was "desolate" and complaining of “wilful dog exclusion” because the family's other dog, Fig, had not even been entered for the competition: "I felt awful reading something about the other two that did not mention our third hound. My daughter's misery has just compounded this guilt." Katie got to wondering whether "Fig might qualify in her own right.” Fig naturally has the very sweetest of natures – “she cannot bear a child crying and is an excellent and doting mother to Mimi.” What’s more, Katie says Fig is a deserving candidate “because she manages to function perfectly on just one brain cell.” The Maitland family need worry no longer that Fig will “slink off feeling unloved into a dark corner by herself etc etc” because Fig... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.

Week 19's Dog of the Week is... Lola

Lola is nearly 6 years old and lives in London. Her owner is our very own Neil Williams, who tells us that Lola "acts like a 3 year old" most of the time. Lola is not keen on thunder and lightning, which she finds "very, very frightening"; her two favourite things are food and swimming. At the seaside, Lola is usually content after diving about in the waves to snack on "crunchy treats like small crabs." But, Neil tells us, Lola's most recent escapade was during a walk in Hyde Park when she decided to go for a vigorous swim in the Serpentine (which is banned) and then - feeling peckish after all that exercise - leapt into the middle of a group of picnickers "and made off with a chicken wing."  Searching for picnics with her best friend Romy, a white Labradoodle, is now Lola's favourite past-time. Lola... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.

Week 18's Dog of the Week is... TinTin (and Mimi!)

This week we have joint winners of Dog of the Week. That's because when Katie Maitland wrote in she explained that "as an owner of two dogs" it was just too hard to single out only one of these buddies. TinTin is a black labrador who has just turned eight years old. She's from a long line of working dogs but, as Katie says, TinTin just doesn't "get it". She dislikes water, is gun shy, and does not understand the concept of retrieving: "why would she want to bring you that stick/ ball/ whatever?" Instead, Katie tells us, TinTin loves to run like the wind and is highly intelligent - "a speedy black cat in a dog's body." Next to TinTin is Mimi, who was originally called 'Bucket' until Katie's youngest daughter "resolutely changed her name to Mimi - and won by sheer persistence." Katie bred Mimi and then couldn't let her go. "She thinks she is a big dog and longs to be more like TinTin." TinTin and Mimi... you are THE PEDLARS DOGS OF THE WEEK.   

Week 17's Dog of the Week is... Moss

Moss is eight months old and recently stayed with Lisa Carey and her family in Shroton, Dorset. Lisa says, "She belongs to my husband’s parents and when they flew off on holiday, Moss came to visit. She is a bundle of wonderful and contagious energy." To keep her busy, Lisa held obedience lessons for Moss in the garden, which is when the picture (right) was taken. Now, Moss has returned home and Lisa tells us, "our house still seems empty without her." Moss... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.

Week 16's Dog of the Week is... Star

Lou Dawson wrote in this week to tell us all about her dog, Star, who lives with her at The Ship Inn in the South of England. Lou says that Star is "just the most brilliant thing on the planet." That alone might qualify her for Dog of the Week, but Lou goes on to explain that Star is "having a bit of an identity crisis: Everyone keeps saying she looks like a bear cub not a dog so I think to win would provide her with the reassurance she needs that she is recognised as a dog by today's society." Star... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.

Week 15's Dog of the Week is... Evie

Evie is a two year old whippet who joined Laura Mills and her family in Gloucestershire when she was five months old, after she picked up a leg injury that left her unwanted by her previous owner. Laura describes Evie as "a wonderful family pet." She is "great friends" with Laura's three year old daughter, Madeleine, and "has coped brilliantly well with the arrival of baby Sophie in December." Although she has a gentle, loving nature, Evie's full of fun - she can run like the wind and is a ball of energy. Evie... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.

Week 14's Dog of the Week is..... Ellie-Bear

Ellie-Bear is a 14 year old cocker spaniel owned by Pippa and Andrew Roe. She is well travelled – having lived in Germany twice as well as the USA and the UK. Pippa and Andrew tell us that “despite now being blind and deaf and keeping pancreatitis at bay, ‘The Bear’ lives life to the full: she enjoys nothing better than keeping our other spaniel, Jasper, in line, and making sure he doesn’t get ideas above his station.” Ellie-Bear... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.

Week 13's Dog of the Week is... Minnie

Minnie is a basset hound owned by 11 year old Beatrice Morris. Beatrice says, "Minnie likes food LOTS (specifically sausages). She is two and a quarter years old. She is not allowed upstairs but she always sneaks up and hides under my bed." Minnie had to have an operation on 23rd April, but she is now at home and recovering well. Minnie... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK. 

Week 12's Dog of the Week is... Roo

Roo (also known as "Eggypoppins" and "Mr Ogadopoulos") is a four year old boxer cross german shepherd. She lives with her owners, Zoe Brown and Jeff Bull, in Ramsgate, Kent. Zoe wrote in this week and delighted us with her tales of Roo: "She's the apple of our eye, and always charges at me when I come in from work, all wags and kisses. Her absolute fave things in the world are yoghurts (which she can get her whole nose in), her old deflated football, and sneaking onto the sofa when she thinks you're not looking. Sometimes she looks at you and you think - she knows exactly whats going on. Mostly, bless her, the light's on but nobody's home! Either way she is the most gorgeous, silly, loveable lump and we couldn’t imagine life without her." Roo... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK!

Week 11's Dog of the Week is... Monty

Monty is just over two years old, and lives with Kerry-Leigh Smith and Lee Parnell in Leicester. His favourite things are going swimming and chasing a ball. According to Kerry-Leigh, Monty's "got 'giving paw' down to an art: if you are asleep on the sofa he will sit at the side of you and keep pawing you until you play with him or fuss him."  Best of all, Kerry-Leigh tells us "he's the most friendly, happiest dog ever." Monty... you are THE PEDLARS DOG OF THE WEEK.