A pipe-smoking pooch has become a local celebrity in his hometown of Glinsk, Co Galway.

Jasper, an 18-month-old King Charles Spaniel, copied the habit from his owner and friend Padraic Sirr. The two pals used to spend their days smoking together until Padraic was diagnosed with diabetes and had to stop.

“He gets fierce excited when I ask him where his pipe is and will jump up to the drawer on the dresser where we keep it, as he knows well where it is," Padraic told the Irish Independent.

“If I had time to train him I reckon he’d be on the telly as he’s incredibly intelligent and understands every word that is said to him."

Padraic says that Jasper might be wondering as to why he’s now smoking alone.

“I think it was by accident Jasper ended up with the pipe as he would have been copying me in the evenings when I’d be sat in the chair puffing away," he said.

“He probably won’t understand why I’m not doing it anymore but I doubt that will bother him as he’s never happier than when he has the pipe in his mouth.”