A litter-picking dog is leading by example – by helping keep her community tidy on her daily walks.
Five-year-old Border Collie Trinny patrols parks and hills for rubbish on her daily walks before depositing what she finds in the bin.
Customer relations worker Alanna Jackson, from Clydebank, said her pet began picking up litter and bringing it to her around a year ago when they were out without a ball or a frisbee.
“A lot of places are full of litter after football and things like that and she’d pick it up. I started to get her to put it in the bin and it went from there,” the 37-year-old said.
“It’s had a positive reaction and kids get excited when they see her doing it in the park. She’ll often get a round of applause from people too.”
The pair venture out to parks and football fields and often go hillwalking, with Trinny dutifully picking up rubbish for disposal.
When there are no bins around, Ms Jackson keeps waste bags handy in her pocket.
Her family jokingly refer to Trinny as a “fluffy ninja”, adding: “She’s hyperactive.
“She’s the smallest collie I’ve ever owned but by far the most agile. Very compact and nimble on her feet. She’s always up to something.”
Ms Jackson regularly joined group litter picks during lockdown, going out on kayaks to collect rubbish along the River Clyde and canals.
She added: “It’s all kind of stopped since everything returned to normal and so many people fell away from it. It really helped the community spirit.
“I think seeing Trinny might encourage people t take a bit of pride in their local area. They might not if they see someone walking with a bag litter-picking, but more so if they see a cute wee dog doing it.”
She said other dog owners have reached out to her asking for advice on how to train their dogs to pick up litter too.
She said: “I’m always happy to help with how to shape behaviours and help them do more with their dog. It’s a fun way to train.
“People are getting cocker spaniels and poodles, which are actually more intelligent than a Collie.
“These small dogs have so much potential and people are not challenging them enough unleash their full abilities. They’re capable of so much more.”
She added: “It would be great to see it catch on.”
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