Five-year-old Hot Toddy, a lurcher cross Staffordshire bull terrier, spends hours with his owner Shannon Wyllie, aged 15, walking along canals and running for miles in the countryside.

He also regularly takes to the dance floor with Shannon and enjoys performing party tricks, in particular loading and unloading supermarket trolleys. However, his favourite pastime is playing tug-of-war or fetch.

Shannon said: "Everything I do with Toddy is for fun, he's always on the go, whether he's dancing with me or doing his party tricks.

"I have found a love in working with Toddy, watching him develop and grow. I also find that it is a huge confidence- builder.

"People always comment on Toddy's non-stop wagging tail and grin.

"Even when we stop dancing, he always nudges me to carry on. He loves it, and if he didn't I wouldn't make him do it.

"I love exploring the local fields with Toddy at weekends, and school holidays allow a lot more time for meandering along canals, forgotten tracks and through the countryside.

"We also love to spend time together one-on-one playing in the garden."

Hot Toddy qualified for Scruffts – a non-pedigree rival to Crufts – in 2006 in the child's best friend and most handsome dog categories.

He has also passed his Kennel Club Silver good citizens assessment and has been selected from thousands of applicants to audition for the Top Dog television programme.

The rescue dog is now in the running to be crowned the UK's fittest dog in Butcher's Pet Care's Doggyiators competition.