Is this Britain's best dog?: Axl up for award after helping teach canine first aid

“Just so you know, we are very proud to say that from a field of 90 dogs, Axl WON the title of BRITAIN'S BEST OFFICE DOG. His prize of £75 worth of Muddy Paws vouchers are being donated straight to Midlands & Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue to raise funds and awareness for the amazing work they do. Axl will, however, be keeping his framed certificate and title! Thank you to everybody who voted for him, your votes I am sure made all the difference.”

“The point is that the dog is used to help others and winning the award would also help charities as the owner says she will donate the prize if she wins. The dog must sit and endure perfect strangers invading its space continually. I'm sorry but that takes training and patience over and above the usual four commands. The 'earning a living' comment was simply that you can't blame the lady for publicising her work. The lady has found a practical and visual way of teaching people correct techniques and she does it only through the good nature and compliance of this dog. She is committed to helping dog owners - some people may find it hard to understand the connection between dogs and their owners but when your pet is suffering you want to help it in the same way you would want to help a human being.The article was very tongue in cheek about the dog "writing" the book, it was an angle that's all.
What I can't get my head round is why people want to take a nice story and mangle it with negative comments. I always feel for the people concerned. Don't rate the dog? Then don't vote for it but don't knock a nice harmless story and spoil someone else's achievements for pleasure.”

“As I've already said,this is an ordinary dog. As usual the "I love my dog its my baby" crowd rush in with the red arrows.
What has earning a living got to do with ridiculous claims about a dogs intelligence?
This woman told her dog to sit TWICE and touched its back ,I told my dog to sit and it sat, ONCE was always enough.He would have let me wrap him in bandages had I wished to do so and I am not critical of this lady for what she does,just the idea that this dog is somehow a super dog,it isn't.

He is competing for dog of the year against a dog that can do pig impressions,does that sound sensible to a genuine dog lover?
My dog never rolled over, played dead,danced on two legs or impersonated farm animals,but I would have backed him to match any dog for behavior and dog-sense.”

“What a wonderful dog. I am a total dog person so much so that if I ever win the lottery I will give a large percentage to dog charities and buy myself a home and small holding in the middle of nowhere and take in some rescue dogs for pets, no limit on number. I will have a large conservatory built and furnished 'dog friendly' and will spend my entire time interacting with my dogs. I will only speak 'dog' and the cuddles and kisses will be all I need to get by. I am finished with humans, and if I won the lottery big time I would be rich enough to be totally eccentric and live forever in 'doggy paradise' - I can dream!”

“@ CCitizen,
I wasn't being negative about the story,rather the fact it states the chuffin dog wrote the book.
If that's the case then start breeding it now and in a few years time there will be dogs all over the country writing novels ***.”

“I can't believe the two people who have commented so negatively about such a lovely item. It's not claiming that the dog can actually do the writing. If these people can do better then please do! Who isn't guilty of trying to make a living? This person helps other people to save the lives of their four legged friends! Speaking as an ACTUAL dog owner - dogs do not like being messed about and space invaded without a lot of care, training and attention - TRY IT AND SEE - I dare you - you might be in need of first aid!! A dog who can only do four basic commands is not in the same league. Such rudeness is uncalled for.”

“When I told my dog to sit,he sat. Didn't have to tell him twice or touch him. Very ordinary dog.

When my dog walked to heel,off the leash,he stopped at the kerb. No traffic? He stood and waited.
Traffic around,he sat and waited. If we are to get these "very clever dog" stories ,at least find dogs that really are,not ones that can't be let of their leash or just sit around while their owner fiddles about with them.
As for "office dog of the year" or whatever,I'll leave that for others to comment on.
(I should have put publicise,not sell in 1st post)”

“What a pathetic non-story.
The dog gets bandaged,so what? What is clever about that? Practically every well looked after and trained dog could be used in this way.
I taught my dog four commands,stay,come,sit and heel,all a dog needs.
This is a feeble gimmick to help sell a book.”

“So this dog wrote it's own book,yea right.”