OWNERS of rottweiler kennels in Earby have revealed that not only have they had VIP dogs among their customers, but the staff went as far as to learn Swedish to make one of them feel at home.

When a couple from East Yorkshire bought 12-stone rottweiler Casper from the Raven Rock Rottweilers, they had problems controlling him, but it was only when they contacted the centre for advice that they were told he did not understand English.

Eileen and Tony Garnett, of Flamborough, discovered this was because their mischievous mutt used to belong to the Swedish international and Coventry City goalkeeper Magnus Hedman -- and at that time answered to the name Castro.

The Hedman family had decided to say goodbye to their much-loved pet because Mrs Hedman, known to her fans as Swedish pop star Magdalena Graaf, was expecting her second son.

Manager of the Earby kennels Linda Sutcliffe, taught Mr and Mrs Garnett a few words of Swedish, which she had learned from a friend and they soon found Casper was not as disobedient as he had first seemed.

Mrs Sutcliffe said: "He was a great dog with a lively temperament, but he understood Swedish rather than English. If you said 'sit' he wouldn't understand although he knows more English words now.

"I didn't know who the footballer was and I never actually met him. He got his other dog from one of my friends and when he wanted someone to take on Casper she took him and passed him on to me. I've spoken to Frank Bruno's wife, who wanted two dogs, but they split up soon after and she's waiting until she's sorted out. We've also had a dog go to a director of Yorkshire Cricket Club. We get people coming from fancy houses and driving Rolls Royces, but in the end, a good home is simply somewhere where the dog will be loved and looked after." Casper's new owner, Mrs Garnett, said: "We know a couple of commands in Swedish -- although they probably sound funny in our Yorkshire accents. We say something like 'leicht' and he rolls over and waits for his tummy to be tickled. And if we say 'empter,' he fetches things. He's a beautiful dog."