MAKE no bones about it, Sam the Old English Sheepdog is barking up the right tree to become a howling success as the new shaggy dog hero of the world of paint.

And now, after putting his best paw forward Sam, from Swan Drive in Cleveleys, has been shortlisted for the regional heats of the 1996 Search for a Dulux Dog competition.

At the end of this month Sam will be lapping up the high life down in London where he will come nose to tail with 40 other national Dulux wannabees ready to take part in the regional semi-final doggie screen tests.

Proud owners Elaine Brown and Peter Swire admit that their giant-sized pooch is a real attention seeker and is already enjoying his brush with stardom.

Elaine said: "Sam is a natural show-off, particularly when he plays football. The only problem is it takes a lot to keep him clean.

"He goes off to Cathy's Dog Parlour in Carleton for a shampoo, set and trim every three weeks, but if he gets really messy Peter ends up bathing him and giving him a blow-dry."

If Sam becomes the new Dulux star and pants his way into the doggie hall of fame, he will be following in the famous paw prints of former shaggy dog heroes Digby, Dash and Duke, along with current stars Dillon and Pickle.

But winning wouldn't only make him a TV celebrity - the £1,000 cash prize could keep him in chew sticks for months!

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