Terrier Bertie’s an internet sensation
WHEN Philip Stadler needed a dog walker for his Lakeland Terrier Bertie, he decided to appeal online.
But his search failed, and only one person came forward. They lasted for one brief walk before deciding Bertie was too hard to handle.
But Phil kept posting and Bertie is now an online sensation with thousands of followers.
Philip, from Cheltenham, Glos, said: “I needed a dog walker, and someone said to create a social media page. I gave it a whirl, posting daily photos of him. Bertie, who is eight, loves the outdoors and other dogs too. The followers just kept coming from then on.
‘’The two aims of the account are to bring a smile to the world and raise awareness of Lakeland Terriers – a breed with birth rates decreasing each year. It’s such a lovely thing to see and it is just a bit of fun that brightens up people’s day.
“We didn’t find a dog walker, but we found an interest in Lakeland Terriers, which is the most important thing.”
Philip explains that the Lakeland Terrier is now a dying breed, describing them as “a bit rough and tumble”. “They are slightly hard work but make up for it in other ways. “Their birth rates are decreasing but since starting this account we now know of more than 10 people with Lakeland Terriers.
“It’s funny because if they like someone they’ll spend all day with them, but if the person tries to leave they try and grab their trousers to stop them from going!”
Follow @bertie_lakeland to join Bertie’s 67,000 fans from as far afield as New Zealand and the US.