March 3, 2008

WEDNESFIELD, UK – Old dogs may not be able to learn new tricks, but for one British canine it’s only because she’s knows every trick there is.

Eight-year old King Charles spaniel, Cindy, can hold beer mats, CDs and even yogurt containers perfectly balanced on her paws and nose.

Another impressive trick she has mastered is holding a golf ball on a spoon in her mouth, while holding a yogurt container on her head.

“I’ve had dogs all my life, but I’ve never come across one like this before,” said Ron Bucknell, Cindy’s owner who’s cultivated her remarkable talent. “I can do tricks with this dog that you’d have to go through another 1,000 dogs to find.”

But what makes Cindy even more of a rare bird is that she can pull off all of her tricks, despite being in poor health.

The spaniel suffers from a weak heart and arthritis, as well as having steel implants to strengthen her legs. Yet, this show-stopping pooch does not let anything keep her down and delights in following commands for rolling on her back and playing dead.

“If it weren’t for her bad legs, I think we could have made Cindy the most amazing performing dog ever,” said Bucknall, 75, who bought Cindy when she become “too much” for her previous owners to care for.

But Bucknall found Cindy to be a treasure and only regrets running out of things to teach her, especially given her physical limitations.

“She really is incredibly bright and doesn’t forget anything.”

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