A WOMAN has been attacked and robbed of a rare dog - and the theft may have been to order.

Until her attacker struck, 25-year-old Jamie Parker owned the only Australian shepherd in the North-East.

Jamie, who had a border collie stolen from her garden in Guisborough less than a year ago, always walked six-month-old Tiah in the same area, at the same time every night.

The mugger initially demanded her mobile phone and cash before making off with the dog, an American breed, which looks like a tail-less border collie.

Jamie and her family are wondering if Tiah was not the mugger's real target.

She said: "The more we think about it, the more we wonder why an opportunistic thief would run off with a dog, and at 11.30pm at night.

"What on earth is he going to do with a dog at the time of night?"

The mugger punched Jamie, who suffers from chronic cystic fibrosis, in the face. He struck as she walked Tiah along a path near the old railway bridge at Hunter's Hill, Guisborough.

Jamie, who owns five border collies, fell in love with the Australian shepherd breed which she saw for the first time in a television programme.

"I did a lot of research into the breed and at the time of my research, they appeared to be only in America. I did not realise there were any in this country," she said.

"I got in touch with the breeders and went down to Cambridge where I bought Tiah."

Jamie has a swollen face and headaches from the attacker's blow.

She has been left devastated by the theft of the rare black, white and tan, 16 inch tall bitch.

Cleveland Police ask anyone with information about the mugging or missing dog should contact them on (01642) 302026.