The Blue Cross animal welfare charity has said that the levels of abandoned shih tzus, chihuahuas and bichon frises have tripled, and thinks that the trend for the dogs popularised by the likes of Paris Hilton may be to blame.

Many dog owners look to emulate the heiress and her chihuahua Tinkerbelle, or Coleen Rooney and bichon frise Daisy, by carrying the pint sized pet around in a designer handbag.

However, many underestimate the care and attention needed to be given to their pets to ensure that they are healthy and well adjusted, and find that they are hopelessly ill equipped to look after them. As such, the charity has been left to find new owners for hundreds of unwanted dogs.

The task has been a struggle – many of the pampered pooches have been mollycoddled to the point of refusing to walk anywhere, and have to be carried. Some of them have even been noted to become aggressive if they witness affection being given to another dog and not themselves.

Lara Alford, who manages the charity which is based in Southampton, says that many of the dogs were bought as a fashion accessory rather than as a companion. She said:

“Although people think they look great when they see someone famous with one, they often don’t realise what a responsibility they are taking on. People think these little dogs do not need the same amount of exercise and attention as bigger ones but this is not the case.”

“If they are mollycoddled and do not get the stimulation they need, it can result in behavioural problems.”

She recounts how one pomeranian named Britney was terrified of her lead, and played dead in order to avoid walking. The new owner had to pick her up and carry her back home.

The dogs, which cost upwards of £1,000 before dog food and veterinarian bills, represent a substantial financial loss for these unprepared dog owners.

This was seen with Chihuahua Camilla, who has been rescued by an animal sanctuary in Edenfield, Bury, Greater Manchester. The manager of the Bleakholt animal sanctuary, Neil Martin, hit out at this latest trend concerning small dogs and said:

“Camilla has been a designer pet and carried around in a handbag like you often see stars such as Paris Hilton doing. She has been treated like a fashion accessory then dumped because her owners couldn’t be bothered to help her.”

“Dogs are not meant to be carried around in a bag and do not learn to socialise if they are always hemmed in. Camilla is suffering from some sort of allergy which is causing her to lose her fur but we will get to the bottom of it and fix it.”

“Camilla is aggressive, but she couldn’t hurt a fly as she is so small but that behaviour has all come from been carried in a bag. We are now going to get her health sorted then work on her social behaviour.”

Experts are warning dog owners that, by continuing this ludicrous fashion craze, there could be hugely expensive vet bills to pay out for due to the ill health of the dogs involved. Chihuahuas are the smallest breed of dog in the world and, if looked after properly, can have a life expectancy of 14-18 years.

The Japanese police academy in Yamatokoriyama has just turned out the latest batch of highly trained police dogs, including Momo, a Chihuahua. Tipping the scales at just 3kg (6.6lb), the tiny pooch beat off stiff competition from many bigger breeds, such as German shepherds, beagles and golden retrievers, to make it through the intensive dog training to her final exams, which she passed with flying colours.

Rather than be used by officers to put the bite on fleeing criminals, Momo will be put to work in rescue situations, such as earthquakes, where she can squeeze her tiny frame through gaps that other, more common rescue dogs just cannot.

The tiny pooch will have a well earned rest over Christmas, and begin her work in earnest in the New Year.

A police spokesperson said:

“It’s quite rare for us to have a Chihuahua work as a police dog.

“We would like it to work hard by taking advantage of its small size.”

Named for the Mexican state where the breed was first discovered, Chihuahuas are usually thought of as must-have fashion accessories and are often seen peeping out of the expensive handbags of film stars and socialites.

Momo, whose name means ‘Peach’ in English, has been awarded a year long contract with the police force, and is the first Chihuahua to have ever passed through the rigorous training regime and exams.

Her owner celebrated Momo’s success by treating her to her favourite dish of chicken and tomatoes.

Paris was spotted out and about in Los Angeles by the Daily Mail, carrying her new puppy in a handbag that matched her outfit. Paris was shopping in LA for new pet supplies, and she’ll be in need of some dog food and other supplies after admitting recently to owning 17 different dogs. This new addition takes her tally to 18!

Presumably not one of her dogs is larger than a handbag though.

Paris was joined by sister Nicky as the pair looked for pet supplies for her large pack of tiny dogs. According to celebrity news website Zimbio.com, Paris’ sister Nicky also bought some cat food for her moggies.

Whether you’re a fan of small dogs such as Chihuahuas or not, you have to hand it to Paris Hilton; she is one of the most famous dog owners out there, and she lavishes love and money on her dogs in equal measures.

How many Sunday morning lie-ins have been scuppered by the realisation that you need to get out of bed to take your dog out to do a boom-boom?

Walking your dog is just one aspect of the time and energy you need to put into looking after your pet. If your dog sheds, a lot of time must be spent grooming him as part of the war to stop your house from becoming a giant hairball. As tired as you may be, you need to spend some quality time with him, which means play time and obedience training. We all know that this effort is vital to ensuring your dog is healthy and happy, and it strengthens the bond between you both, but we’ve all had the odd guilty thought about not having to go to the lengths you do.

If, for whatever reason, you’re unable to devote as much time as you’d like to activities with your pet, you may want to consider a low maintenance dog. Bear in mind that there are many definitions for ‘low maintenance‘. It may be in terms of health issues, obedience, or even how much your dog slobbers, but for our purposes, we’ll just consider exercise and grooming. Here are Dream Dogs’ top five dogs for the dilatory owner:

Pug

With its origins lying in China, the pug is thought to be responsible for the Pekinese and the King Charles spaniel. This breed reached about a foot in height and, as long as you don’t feed them too much, they weigh about 18 pounds. They don’t require much exercise – because of the pug’s compact head, it will have difficulty in breathing if you do, so it’s best to stick to moderate walks. The only real drawback of this breed is that they tend to shed their fur a lot; they’re stubborn too, so may require some training not to climb up on your sofa. Oh, and not all of them talk like Frank the pug in the film Men in Black.

Japanese Chin

Another toy breed that originated in the Far East, the Chin is traditionally the dog of Japanese royalty. It’s slightly smaller than the pug, weighing in at 8 – 11 pounds. It’s was bred as a lapdog, and as such needs little exercise. In fact, it’s considered by many to be the most cat-like of all dogs. Their coat requires brushing every couple of days, and it has no odour, meaning that it does not need frequent bathing. It’s a very sociable animal and gets on well with pets, and it’s known to perform tricks and ‘sing’. It’s probably the closest you could ever get to a Mogwai.

Bulldog

Originally bred to bite bulls – no, that’s not a typo – to enable its owner to tie a rope around the bovine’s neck, the bulldog’s fiery temperament has been bred out of it over the years, making it an affectionate and sociable pet. Although muscular, it’s not an active breed, so casual exercise is recommended to ensure it doesn’t become obese. Having short hair, they don’t require much grooming but you’ll need to clean the folds in his face – those wrinkles are Club Med for mildew.

Greyhound

What? A racing dog on a list for indolent owners? Don’t let this breed’s reputation for being as fast a lightning fool you. They’d rather not exercise too much, and a 20 – 30 minute walk a day will keep them happy. Despite their size – 2 ½ feet high and weighing 60 – 70 pounds – they don’t require much space. These qualities actually make them better ‘apartment dogs’ than smaller, more active breeds. It also has a short coat which is great if you have allergies.

Chihuahua

There’s a reason that the Chihuahua is the favourite of over-privileged socialites and spoilt heiresses everywhere. This dog can weigh between 2 – 6 pounds and is only 9 inches tall, meaning that it can fit in your Chanel purse with ease. The grooming requirements are low, even for longer haired varieties. They need minimal exercise, so the occasional walk will be enough, but they can suffer serious health problems if they become overweight. Chihuahuas are very highly strung, so if you have children or other animals you may have a meltdown on your hands. However, if you like to pose for the paparazzi with your pet, the chances are that you’ll have a dog psychotherapist on 24-hour call out.

Despite my indifference, soap operas are huge everywhere. Whether it’s a dour Mancunian grumpfest like Albion Market, the ten-gallon, shoulder padded exploits of everyday Texan oil barons or wigged out Mexican daytime soaps about doctors, inheritance battles and unwitting incest, there’s no mistaking their popularity. In salutation to the humble soap actor, we at Dream Dogs give you our top 5 UK soap star dog owners.

Patsy Palmer

The 38 year old actress, who found fame playing Bianca, the freckled foghorn and bedeviller of cockernee thickie Ricky in EastEnders, owns a Shar Pei called Layla. Although you may think that she’s only ever been in the soap, she’s also starred in Grange Hill, Drop the Dead Donkey and The Bill, but ‘let’s face it, who hasn’t been in The Bill? She also played a teen with a face like a welder’s bench in a Clearasil advert.

Kym Marsh

Marsh, 34, from Merseyside, recently hit the headlines over adopting an abandoned Labrador called Oliver in January. The hapless pup was left in a cardboard box outside a pet shop in Surrey, but found a home with Marsh. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Oliver didn’t get on with Charlie the Chihuahua, Marsh’s other pet pooch, and was banished back to the dog pound.

Ironically, Oliver had previously featured in a program about abandoned dogs. Luckily for him, he was soon re-adopted and Marsh was said to be embarrassed about the whole episode.

William Roache

Coronation Street stalwart Bill Roache, known to the nation as Ken Barlow, had a bad experience with his Labrador after it attacked and killed a neighbour’s Yorkshire Terrier. The actor, who successfully sued The Sun newspaper because they accused him of being boring (go figure), initially denied that his pet of eight years was involved in the incident, but when the local constabulary got involved he had the aggressive Lab put to sleep. He appeared on the Richard and Judy show to explain why he had to do the responsible thing.

Rob Kazinsky

The EastEnders hunk, who played Sean Slater, recently got a two month old German shepherd pup. Having a devil of a time naming her, he turned to Twitter and asked his followers to come up with a name for his new pet. Kazinsky, who is said to be currently penning a series ‘inspired’ by Sex and the City, named his pet Roxy, after the EastEnders character with whom his was romantically involved.

Gemma Merna

The Hollyoaks star, who plays Carmel McQueen in the soap, recently said that she has no plans to become a mother as her time is taken up looking after her pups. Speaking of her pets, she said:

“Phoebe’s a curly-haired Westie and Cole’s a St Bernard. They take up most of my time – it’s like having two kids. They like to play, but can be quite hard work.”

Keep your ear to the ground for tomorrow’s top 5 list…

As I surmised in yesterday’s article, the top of the acting profession is a cold, lonely place that fosters suspicion, mistrust, paranoia and a host of medium-grade mental illnesses. This is even more so for actresses, as they are judged more harshly on their looks than their male counterparts. Although there has always been a steady stream of young, good looking actors, it seems that it’s only the women who have to look over their shoulder and keep a wary eye on the next bright young thing foisted upon moviegoers.

Even though both actors and actresses resort to plastic surgery to keep ahead of the competition in the looks department, it seems that less fuss is made about the guys. It would be interesting to total up the column inches devoted to Nicole Kidman’s alleged Botox treatment compared to Michael Douglas’ alleged face lift.

It’s no wonder that many actresses spend vast wads of cash indulging their four legged friends. After all, that shivering, bug-eyed Chihuahua you carry about with you everywhere in your Gucci handbag won’t leave you for a younger owner if you develop crow’s feet or suggest that you need a boob job if you want to score your next big film role. Here are Dream Dogs’ top five dog owning actresses:

Drew Barrymore

Latest in the line of the Barrymore acting dynasty – she’s the grand-daughter of John Barrymore, arguably the most acclaimed actor of his generation – Drew Barrymore rescued her Labrador/Chow cross Flossie from a flea market in Pasadena in 1996. Drew has said that she owes her life to Flossie – during a fateful night in 2001, Barrymore’s Beverly Hills mansion went up in flames, and the pooch barked wildly and thumped on her bedroom door until she woke and was able to escape. The story didn’t quite have a happy ending; Barrymore’s then boyfriend, comedian Tom Green, also managed to escape unharmed. What’s that? Of course I’m joking.

Jennifer Aniston

The Friends actress (who gets a pass in my book for her role in cult classic Office Space) is the proud owner of Norman, a Welsh corgi/terrier cross. Norman became one of the most photographed dogs in the world when Aniston split from actor Brad Pitt in summer of 2005, and has even posed with her on magazine cover shoots.

Britney Spears

The insane, shaven-headed ex-Mousketeer, who had a starring role in 2001’s critically panned Crossroads, owns three Chihuahuas – Bit Bit, Lacy Lu and Lucky, and spoils them rotten. Spears likes to dress Bit Bit, writing on her website:

“My dogs are getting so spoiled! They have the most adorable outfits! PJs, dresses, coats, boots, summer jerseys, a princess bed, and all types of the cutest accessories! Look how cute little Bit Bit is in her faux mink coat!!!”

Sigourney Weaver

The actress, who most recently starred in sci-fi epic Avatar, owns an Italian Greyhound named Petals. Deciding to breed her beloved pet, Weaver staged a ‘wedding’ with Jimmy, a neighbour’s greyhound. Petals wore a faux Vera Wang gown with pearls (no, seriously), and soon after gave birth to a litter of pups, one of whom named Bacci lives with the actress.

If your Italian Greyhound is starting to look like Miss Haversham from Great Expectations because you can’t find an appropriate suitor, you’re best checking out a stud dog directory.

Paris Hilton

Sorry, we couldn’t write a list of actresses who own dogs without mentioning everyone’s favourite victim of that ‘leaked’ video tape scandal.

The socialite, heiress and star of 2005’s House of Wax, has possibly the most spoiled dog in Hollywood. Tinkerbell, her Chihuahua, can usually be seen peeking nervously from her handbag, but made headlines around the world in 2004 when she reportedly went missing. Hilton offered a $5,000 reward for Tinkerbell, and posted signs around her neighbourhood. The dog was soon found safe and secure… at Hilton’s home. Sigh.

Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for another Dream Dogs top 5 list…

It’s a given that as an actor acquires more and more fame, there’s more of a chance that they will acquire flunkies to tend to their needs and massage their ego. Whether it’s to beat off screaming fans, scatter rose petals in their path or make midnight runs for bowls of blue M&Ms, their every whim is catered for. It’s easy to see how the upper echelons of the acting fraternity could become somewhat paranoid when surrounded by yes men, which is why many actors turn to their dogs for companionship.

No matter if your latest film only achieves a 23 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes or how strange you look after botched plastic surgery, your faithful pooch will not desert you. This is why many are lavished with diamond collars, fur lined dog baskets and the finest steak money can buy. Let’s take a look at our top five dog-owning actors:

Adrien Brody

Star of The Pianist and more recently Predators, generously schnozzed Brody adores his Chihuahua Ceelo Vicious. Whilst away in New Zealand filming crazy ape flick King Kong in 2005, he said that when he retuned home after the gruelling shoot, Ceelo Vicious was somewhat shocked to see him. In fact, he had forgotten who he was. With an entirely straight face, Brody told Elle Magazine:

“He didn’t know me at first, then when I got into bed he kissed me for an hour straight and cried. He’s adorable, an incredible creature.”

Jim Carrey

The rubbery faced Canuck is the proud owner of a whopping Great Dane called George. Interestingly, the gurning comedian adopted George in 2000, the year he had a brush with a Great Dane in his film Me, Myself & Irene. The dog in the film was called Fatima and was trained to do a dookie on cue. Coo!

David Duchovny

One may be forgiven for thinking that the only pet Duchovny has is the X Files albatross hanging around his neck, but he also owns a Border collie/Jersey collie mix called Blue. Narrating a 2004 documentary about homeless pets called Best Friend Forgotten, in which he appeared with a German Shepherd, he turns to the camera and says:

“If my dog Blue is watching at home, this stuff with Lenny, that’s just acting. It meant absolutely nothing.”

Blue appeared in a 1999 X Files episode titled ‘Hollywood AD’.

Jake Gyllenhaal

The Prince of Persia beefcake owns two dogs; Boo Radley, a Puggle, and Atticus Finch, a German Shepherd. Atticus was adopted from a Los Angeles animal shelter with then-squeeze Kirsten Dunst. The couple split, but retain joint custody of the dog.

Jake Gyllenhaal and his dogs

Elton John

“What?” I hear you cry, “He’s a singer, not an actor!” Well, Elton John appeared as the Pinball Wizard in The Who’s 1975 film Tommy which makes me technically correct – the best kind of correct there is.

The luxuriantly haired diva owns a Cocker Spaniel named Arthur. During their civil partnership ceremony to David Furnish, staff at Windsor’s Guildhall refused to let the pooch into the building. They soon relented when Elton told them that Arthur was actually their best man.

A win for civil rights and doggie rights in one swift Elton John sized tantrum.

A boyish Beckham bore the weight of a nation’s expectation on his shoulders during the build up to the 1998 Word Cup in France. During a much anticipated match with Argentina in the second round of the competition, he was sent off, resulting in his effigy being burned outside pubs in London.

Fast forward to 2001, and Beckham’s goal against Greece, which qualified England for the 2002 World Cup, completed his conversion to a hero once again.

Doubtless a lot of them live in luxury and are fine fodder for paparazzi, but what of their pets? Do their cats have solid gold litter trays? Do their budgerigars dine only on the same Trill as the Queen’s? What about their pet dogs? The first in our series of Top 5 articles this week, let’s have a look at the top 5 Premiership footballer dog owners:

Ashley Cole

Fully paid up love rat Cole, 29, has recently split up from wife Cheryl Cole. The former Girls Aloud singer filed for divorce due to Ashley’s much publicised philandering. Rather than arguing over who owned which DVD or which of them gets to keep the crockery, the ex couple are headed for a bust up over their pet dogs.

X-Factor judge Cheryl has said time and time again that their pair of pet Chihuahuas, Coco and Buster, are the most important thing in the world to her. The problem is that Ashley also claims the two dogs are critical to his happiness as a carefree bachelor. Custody battles over dogs are more common than you would imagine, especially in the US, but a source close to the couple intimated that they have come to an agreement that will see them share the dogs until a decision is made as part of their divorce settlement.

Steven Gerrard

Liverpool’s Captain Fantastic has recently taken in Quinn, a German Shepherd. However, rather than being a family pet, Quinn is a working dog employed to protect his owner’s £3 million property in Formby, Merseyside.

Like many footballers in the North West, Gerrard has fallen victim to burglars whilst playing matches away from home. He previously employed ex-SAS guards, but Quinn, along with his handler, now patrols the grounds of his mansion and keeps his family (and his many medals and extensive collection of widescreen televisions) safe from sticky-fingered burglars.

Wayne Rooney

The Manchester United forward recently made the headlines after splashing out over £1,200 for a French Mastiff pup. Fully grown, the Mastiff can be quite a handful (much like its owner); weighing in at 9 stones, it will be heavier than his wife Coleen. She already owns a Bichon Frise, and they have been snapped wearing matching velour tracksuits whilst out and about. They say you can’t buy class.

With French Mastiffs noted as being somewhat lacking in handsomeness, it’s safe to say that both dog and owner will grow to look alike.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker owns two bulldogs, named Pomo and Yanta, and loves to indulge his passion in watching The Dog Whisperer, starring famed trainer Cesar Milan, which he says is his favourite show. His daily routine involves taking the pair for a walk after training.

Liam Lawrence

Special mention must go to Stoke’s winger, who in 2008 was sidelined from a crunch mach after tripping over his dog on the stairs at his home. Lawrence was lucky not to break his ankle in the bizarre accident, and was up and about again after a few weeks’ rest.

He said of his pet “He’s a small dog, but a solid one.”

Perhaps Stoke could have used the dog in their midfield, as they have a few terriers already at the Britannia?

Princess Abby’s owner, Kathleen Francis, picks up a $1,000 cheque in prize money at the 22nd ugly dog event (yep, they’ve been holding this event every year for 22 years!).

Kathleen Francis doesn’t even consider her dog Princess Abby to be ugly, commenting:

“I don’t think she’s ugly at all. I think she’s the most beautiful dog.”

The dog’s back and legs are curved in a strange manner, and her left eye is closed, unable to open. The Princess defeated last year’s winner, Pabst, and a strong field of very ugly Chinese Crested dogs. Kathleen Francis only recently adopted the ugly dog, after she had been abandoned by her previous owner.

The deformities within Princess Abby are thought to have been caused by inbreeding, which was a subject hotly argued over not so long ago following the ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ TV program, and also caused the BBC to drop its coverage of Crufts.

Abby was chosen as the ugliest dog in the world by a panel of celebrity judges, judges that included Christina Moore (from ‘That 70’s Show) and Matt Scannell, lead singer from Vertical Horizon.