A CHANNEL-hopping dog is driving his owner mad with his telly addiction.

Fen, the ten-year-old working sheep dog, loves watching TV so much he even knows how to change the channel.

His owner, Aileen Clarke, from Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, has to hide the remote from him if she wants to watch something that Fen does not like.

She said: "If he thinks the programme's boring he tries to get hold of the remote to change it, or walks off in a huff. His favourite programmes are animal ones, such as Pet Rescue.

"He knows when his programmes are on, too, and will ask for the remote so he can switch on and watch."

Aileen has had Fen since he was eight weeks old and quickly realised he was a telly addict after putting a dog training video on and seeing him take an immediate interest.

She has worn out Fen's favourite Bambi video, but he is still able to watch his other favourite, Tales of the River Bank.

Aileen said: "He is very selective in his viewing.

"We got him 102 Dalmations out to watch. He loved 101 Dalmations, but he walked off half way through this one.

"He used to love Animal Hospital. As soon as he heard the EastEnders music he'd come tearing in because it was on afterwards."

Fen also hides behind Aileen's legs if something frightening comes on the box. "If something like wasps or bees are buzzing on the telly, he hides and peeps round from behind my legs until it's gone," she said.

Fen won countless rosettes and trophies in dog agility competitions, but had to retire when he was six due to hip problems.

Aileen added: "He's just a couch potato now.

"I wouldn't be surprised to find him drinking a beer and eating crisps in front of the telly."