DIDO the dog is hoping good works and good looks will finally clinch the national title he has been chasing for five years.The Jack Russell is taking centre stage in Earls Court, London, on Sunday in the Companion Dog competition run in association with the Kennel Club.

DIDO the dog is hoping good works and good looks will finally clinch the national title he has been chasing for five years.

The Jack Russell is taking centre stage in Earls Court, London, on Sunday in the Companion Dog competition run in association with the Kennel Club.

His owner Brenda Hammond said she was delighted the terrier had qualified for the fifth time, albeit in the OAP class after so many years of effort.

Mrs Hammond of Caister Road said he was edging ever closer to victory, after making it to the final six last year in a class of 16.

So frequent have his visits become that he is on first name terms with presenter Peter Purves who calls him “the little mathematician” because of his ability to bark out his age.

“He is a lovely little dog,” Mrs Hammond said. “He is the mascot for the Great Yarmouth Gateway Club helping people with learning disabilities. He goes up there once a month and communicates with members. Some of them who do not talk, talk to Dido and he seems to know.”