Watch: Owner captures amazing video of Shropshire dog performing Houdini-like escape
This Shropshire rescue dog has become an internet sensation after his contortionist skills were captured on video.
More than 50,000 people have watched Dash, a five-month-old Saluki cross, using his Houdini-esque skills to work his way through a cat-sized flap in a pet gate – a gap so small that even a cat struggles to pass through it.
Owners Paul Groves and Nicky Gilligan, of Newport, said they had been astounded by the level of interest in the video of Dash, who they took in from Shrewsbury Dogs Trust three weeks ago.
Paul said: "It has been amazing. In total it has been viewed more than 50,000 times online and it just seems to be getting more views constantly. It is crazy.
"It is incredible that it has captured so many people's imagination. It is just a funny video, but people seem to like it and be sharing it all over the place.
"Dash is a beautiful dog and he has a really good temperament. He's playful and we're delighted we have him."
The clip shows Dash squeezing his body through a tiny cat flap in the gate, which was installed to stop him going upstairs. Paul said he and Nicky set up the camera after returning home and being puzzled to find Dash upstairs, despite the barrier.
He said: "We put the pet gate in to stop him going upstairs and we came home a couple of times and he was not in the kitchen, the gate was closed and we found him upstairs. We couldn't work it out, we thought he was jumping over it but it's quite high so we set up the camera and were amazed to see he was squeezing through the cat flap."
Paul said that it was incredible that Dash had managed to fit through the gap, when one of his cats can barely squeeze through it. He said: "When you see his size, he's a greyhound lurcher type dog so to squeeze himself through a gate like that is incredible."
The couple are now considering a follow-up idea. "
We have thought about setting up a 'Dash cam' and I'm sure he'll be up to a few more things."
