BOLTON weimarana Rafferty has proved he is the top dog by scooping the number one prize at a world class show in Amsterdam.

Rafferty, whose show name is Show Champion Catruane Rafferty, took the award at the International Canine Federation World Winner awards.

He is owned by Ruth Longbottom, from Blackrod, and her mum Anne. Anne made the trip to the RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre in Holland to show the dog, and was gobsmacked when he came first after winning the Best Dog award and also Best of Breed.

She said: "I was so pleased. When it had been announced that Rafferty had won, the judges brought Champagne into the ring and we began to celebrate.

"I have had so many e-mails from people who I don't even know since the event. One man even contacted me to try to buy the dog!"

Ruth, Anne and Rafferty will soon be preparing for their next big competition in Italy in November where he will be on show once more and hoping to scoop another big prize.