Famous dart playing dog delivers a nine pup finish

Jip, Ken and the pups

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Rochdale’s most famous dog has hit the bullseye again after giving birth to a litter of nine pups.

Two year old dart playing Border Collie, Jip, is the resident pub dog at The Royds Arms owned by Northern-based brewer, Thwaites.

As well as turning her into a four-legged celebrity, Jip’s ‘paw’ talent with the dartboard has made her the official pub mascot and an honorary member of The Royds Arms darts team. Drinkers from all over Lancashire visit the pub to witness Jip’s amazing dart fetching skills.

Landlord and dog lover Kenneth Hughes trained Jip to retrieve the darts from the dartboard by leaping into the air and carefully plucking them out. The athletic pooch then places the darts at the feet of the darts player ready to fetch again.

Jip gave birth to nine puppies six male and three female in early June. Mr Hughes has named the nine puppies after ales in the Thwaites range. The males have been named Wainwright, Old Dan and Bomber. The females are Nutty Black, Crafty Devil, Good Elf, Hobnobber, Egg Roller and Half Nelson.

Mr Hughes said: “Jip’s nine pups have created a real stir in the pub and the local community. They are a real handful but just as playful and curious as she is. Jip has become a bit of a celebrity in recognition of her talents and loves all the attention she gets appearing on TV and in newspapers, she’s even been immortalised in a mobile darts game app. The pups really do have a lot to live up to!

“Jip really is a great asset to the pub and the darts team and as the team mascot she brings them good luck as well. The pub team just won the Rochdale Darts League! Even though I’ve named the pups after various Thwaites ales, Jip will always be the Original.”

The pups will all be going to good homes over the next few weeks.

Video: Dart playing dog is a hit with the regulars