Video: One man and his pipe-puffing dog

Pipe-loving Padraic Sirr likes nothing better than sharing a puff with his playful pup.

But now he’s been told put it out by his doctor and end his mutual passion with his best friend Jasper — his King Charles Spaniel.

Padraic, from Glinsk, Co Galway, smoked a pipe for 40 years, before a recent diabetes diagnosis put paid to the habit.

“I was a heavy smoker up until two weeks ago when the doctor told me I’d have to give it up. The dog has been copying me since he was a small pup and even though there’s nothing in the pipe I give him, he loves holding it in his mouth.

“He gets fierce excited when I ask him where his pipe is and will jump up to the drawer on the dresser where we keep it, as he knows well where it is.

“If I had time to train him I reckon he’d be on the telly as he’s incredibly intelligent and understands every word that is said to him. I spend hours chatting to him and we have great fun together. He’s certainly not like any of the dogs I’ve had before, that’s for sure.”

Padraic and Jasper are well known in the area, as Padraic is also known for his impressive collection of beehives in his back garden.

“Years ago we’d have had a lot more animals but now it’s just us and Jasper, as well as a couple of hens and the bees.

“I think it was by accident Jasper ended up with the pipe as he would have been copying me in the evenings when I’d be sat in the chair puffing away.

“He probably won’t understand why I’m not doing it anymore but I doubt that will bother him as he’s never happier than when he has the pipe in his mouth,” Padraic says.

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