Pooch has no time to get bored

So what else would an active dog do on a sunny afternoon in Salthill?

A skateboard on the prom was just the answer for Darby, a Jack Russell and Springer Spaniel cross owned by Galwayman Noel Doherty.

Darby, who is seven, grabbed the attention of strollers as he freewheeled along on his skateboard — a trick he was taught by Noel.

“He’s a quick learner and he can do lots of tricks. He does all the usual stuff like bowing or whatever, but can also turn on a kettle and other appliances and open doors,” said Noel.

Darby really belongs to Noel’s girlfriend, but he has been training him for the last four to five years.

“He picks things up pretty quickly and he gets quite a bit of attention when I take him to places like the prom.

“If I didn’t have a girlfriend, I’ve been told he’s also a great prop to meet them,” laughed Noel.

But just minutes after photographer Andrew Downes snapped Darby on his skateboard, Noel — a dog trainer with Trusty Pet Pals in Galway — had to run to the aid of a young woman after her dog suffered a heart attack.

“She was coming up from the water with her dog and crying and screaming. Her dog, a Bijon cross bitch, has just had a heart attack and her heart had stopped.

“The girl told me that the dog, Lily had a heart murmur and was on medication. I know canine CPR, so I managed to get her heart going again.

“We had to get her to a vet quickly and two lovely Americans put us all into their car and drove us to a vet in Barna. I massaged her chest all the way there and she seemed better when we arrived.

“Hopefully, all will be well for her,” said Noel.