http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4274084/Pup-on-the-roof.html

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw this on Look East last night. One slip on that ladder and you can say goodbye to owner and dog. It's not as if it's a small dog you could carry easily, 7 stone is pretty hefty. All in all totally irresponsible!

I've seen photos of my breed doing this though they get down the ladders themselves. not something i wd ever let my dogs do though.

Nothing new :) I remember watching a programme about a thatcher years ago. He had a collie who went up the ladder with him and would go down and retrieve his tools if he dropped them :) The collie looked very nimble and secure - not sure about a labrador tho' :)

I think I have seen "roofer" terriers too in the past.
I do wonder whether this large beast is suitable too.  I notice the owner says "and has never fallen off."  Well, he will only do it once!

Came across a GR a couple of years ago lying on the pavement, it had fallen through a 3rd floor sash window! Still alive but in a dreadful state, I've often wondered if it survived.

>All in all totally irresponsible!

Nice bit of free (national) publicity for both the Thatcher and the Pub!

Once had a GSD who would follow me up ladders unfortunately she never found out how to reverse and there were several occasions when I had to wait or call for assistance.  In the end bought a set of decorators steps that had steps both sides with a platform at the top so I could get down and lift the daft Nova off.

Have just watched the video footage of this on the BBC website. Me thinks a publicity stunt. The owner says it is to keep the dog safe near busy roads!! There are other ways of keeping a dog safe (long leash, crate, dog play pen etc). Carrying such a large dog up a ladder is very unsafe for owner and dog.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It's not as if it's a small dog you could carry easily, 7 stone is pretty hefty

I'm not going to pass comment on whether i agree/disagree with this but people in trades such as roofing and scaffolding etc are extremely fit and used to carrying heavy loads so carrying the 7 stone probably isnt any great shakes to him.

Well they should have thought about the old saying "Raining cats and dogs". That did after all come about when it rained and animals sitting on thatched roofs (which apparently was common once) slid off!