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A Pembrokeshire farmer believed his dog had gone missing – but two days later she reappeared having taken a weekend trip to get a haircut without telling anyone.

Smudge is a typical farm dog and loves hunting, rolls in poo, hates fuss, and disappears for hours following interesting trails. She's never had a wash, let alone a hair trim.

But after one longer-than-average expedition Smudge found herself six miles from home at a dog grooming parlour called Shampooches.

When the parlour owner Kate O'Driscoll decided to take her in and give her a full cut and blow dry, 10-year-old Smudge wasn't going to say no.

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

When she eventually found her way back to owner Edward Clements, he hardly recognised his dog, who was sporting a brand new haircut and smelled distinctly floral.

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

It's not unusual for Smudge to disappear for several hours. So Mr Clements, a 30-year-old dairy farmer, wasn't worried when he didn't see his dog on Saturday, April 27. But when she still hadn't come back by the following morning he started to grow worried.

Then, on the afternoon of the Monday, he got a call from the local vets in Narberth saying his dog was at their practice. When he went to collect her the first thing he noticed was how clean she was. Then he realised her coat was a lot shorter and neater than usual and she smelled of perfume.

"She'd had the full works, bath and all," Mr Clements said. "She was spotless, and she smelled like a perfume-wearing granny."

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

Slowly Mr Clements pieced together the full details of exactly what Smudge had got up to after she set off from the farm, just outside Martletwy.

After walking six miles towards Narberth in pursuit of some walkers who had passed through the farm Smudge had been picked up by Natasha O'Driscoll, sister to Kate.

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

"It was quite late at night, and we spotted the eyes on the road," Miss O'Driscoll said.

"We stopped and opened the door and she just got in the car.

"She was such a friendly little dog."

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

Although they knocked on the doors of some nearby houses no-one knew who the dog belonged to. Miss O'Driscoll decided to take her home to her sister Kate who runs Shampooches, a dog grooming parlour in Sageston.

Taking pity on the scruffy-looking Jack Russell terrier the two sisters set about giving her the full pooch pampering treatment on Sunday. Smudge seemed to enjoy the whole experience, said Miss O'Driscoll, and didn't mind being washed or having her hair trimmed.

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

"Sometimes they don't like the scissors, but she was fine," she said.

"We tried phoning round all the dog rescue places but they were shut. We knew she must have a home to go to though because she kept wandering up to the gate and staring at it."

On Monday they took Smudge to the vets in Narberth who recognised the animal and contacted Mr Clements.

Now back at home with her sister, Smooch, Mr Clements said he was impressed with Shampooches but he hoped Smudge didn't expect regular trips to the salon.