IT CERTAINLY brings a whole new meaning to the term doggy paddle.

Hydrotherapy is the ultimate rescue remedy for injured or unfit dogs - and it seems that for celebrity dog Bruno it takes the biscuit.

The canine star of TV show London's Burning was testing Hampshire's first hydrotherapy pool for dogs and - after an uncertain start he seemed to like it.

The powerful boxer - companion of Poison Pearce in the hit ITV series - took a while to get used to the water but, as soon as he heard the whirring jets, he could not resist a dip as his brother Pancho looked on.

Powerful jets of air gently pushed against him as he paddled and bobbed, working his muscles and joints while the water supported his body.

Chris and Gaynor Warriner built the £12,000 pool house at the back of their home in Barton-on Sea, near New Milton in the New Forest. They hope to ease the aches and pains of dogs from all over the region.

Chris, 43, and Gaynor, 44, will spend a lot of time in the pool themselves, as the dogs need to be supported and given the added confidence to take the plunge.

"We will only have one dog in the pool at a time and that won't be for more than a quarter of an hour. Some of them will only be able to last five minutes as it is quite tiring," said Chris.

"There are certain injuries that dogs sustain which mean they can't put too much weight on their legs.

"This is the answer as in the pool they can get exercise while their bodies are supported by the water."

"We'll take it in turns with the dogs. When one dog comes out of the pool one of us will dry it off."

Of course, all that hard work will leave Chris and Gaynor feeling pretty tired at the end of the day, but they say it is not all a dog's life.

They just get into the pool with a glass of wine and a good book to relax after their exhausting endeavours.

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