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When a Welshman living in China asked a dog groomer to give his beloved pet a trim, he didn’t think the fact he couldn’t speak the language and the groomer not being able to speak English was going to be too much of a problem.

But it appears his instructions may have got lost in translation after he returned to find his fluffy pooch had been shaved to look like a POODLE when he picked her up.

Leigh Simmons, 27, has been living in Shenzhen, in southeastern China – which links Hong Kong to China’s mainland – for nine months with his wife Kat.

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Leigh, originally from the village of Quakers Yard, near Merthyr Tydfil , and Kat both work as teachers.

They adopted their beloved pet after they found her as a stray wandering the streets.

After falling in love with her, they decided to take the dog, named Seren, in and give her a home.

“She was all alone in an alleyway and didn’t look to be in the best of shape”, he said. “We’ve had her for six months now and she’s wonderful.”

Leigh believes Seren is a mixed breed, possibly having been bred from a German Shepherd.

He said: “I wanted to shave the dog for the summer. It’s really hot here at the moment.

“I tried doing it myself but it proved rather difficult with my small clippers.”

So Leigh decided to allow a professional to take over.

“The woman spoke no English and I speak very, very little Chinese.

“I ended up miming shaving the dog and I made a ‘bzzz’ sound.

“The woman nodded and told me to come back at four.”

But he had no idea he’d be returning to find Seren looking almost unrecognisable.

“I came back and saw the dog and just started laughing hysterically. I could barely stand up, I was laughing so much.

“The poor women working there were so confused. They looked embarrassed, like they were worried I wasn’t going to pay them.

“But I did. It cost me roughly ten pounds.”

Leigh said the style they gave his dog is the most popular for dogs in China – while he estimates around 80% of the dogs he sees are poodles.

“Everyone in China has a Poodle. Lots them have this style.

“I just didn’t think at the time that the French Poodle look that you see in films was the standard model for shaving dogs out here.

“When I brought her home my wife was shocked.

“Weirdly enough though, since the shave Chinese people have been a lot more friendly with Seren. I think the haircut shows that she’s taken care of.”