A DOG with a front crawl to rival Michael Phelps has set tongues and tails wagging after swimming the length of the English Channel.

Five-year-old Dotty loves nothing better than completing a few lengths of doggy paddle in the hydrotherapy pools at Brentknoll Veterinary Centre in Whittington Road, Worcester, and has just finished her 100th session.

The labrador has been swimming for four years to treat the elbow dysplasia that forced her to retire from Guide Dog training.

Staff calculated the courageous canine had clocked up 23.6 miles – equivalent to swimming across the English Channel – and gave her a certificate, rosette and some footage of her milestone paddle.

Kirsty Richards, from the centre, said: “Being in the water helps Dotty’s joints like it would with a human. The sessions are 30 minutes long and she’ll be swimming for about 10-15 minutes.

“She’s very good – our first dog to reach 100 swims. We hope she keeps swimming with us and makes it back across the channel.”