Adorable cockapoo hired as wilko’s first-ever ‘Paw Manager’

A wilko-obsessed Cockapoo has been crowned the first-ever ‘Paw Manager’ of a local branch – after refusing to pass her favourite store without dragging her owners inside.

Jazz the golden Cockapoo fell in love with wilko when her local store started allowing dogs in last year and she began making regular visits with her owners, who shop there for canine food and treats.

Ever since, the eight-year-old pooch has refused to pass the Chippenham store without going inside – stopping her owners in their tracks and refusing to walk any further unless it is towards wilko.

The clever pup has even learned exactly where the store is and foils any attempt to avoid wilko on certain days, by putting the brakes on and pulling them back towards the shop.

Once inside, Jazz says she knows exactly where her favourite aisle is – the treat aisle – and makes a determined beeline for it, dragging her owners along by the lead.

Jazz’s owner, Carolyn, said: “The first time we took her in she was very excited – she was actually slipping on the floor as she was trying to run so fast.

“Since then she’s very keen to go in and it’s now got to the point where she won’t pass even if we don’t want anything.

“The first few times I thought she’s just being funny and then you realise there’s a pattern to it and I just thought it was hilarious. She’s quite a character and very intelligent.

“We’ve tried to go a different way to avoid wilko if we don’t need anything from the store but Jazz will still protest and she knows the route so she just will not move from the spot.

“She knows the door so she goes straight in – it’s nice being able to take her in but you can’t look at anything until you’ve been to the treat aisle!”

Since becoming a regular at wilko Chippenham, Jazz has become somewhat of a local celebrity – winning the hearts of team members instore who excitedly await her visits.

The cheeky pooch has even got into the habit of leaving her mark on every visit – by planting her paw in the doggy water bowl provided instore after stopping for a drink on her way out.

Jazz’s efforts to make her mark on the local branch have now paid off, with the much-loved Cockapoo being appointed ‘Paw Manager’ of the store for her devotion to wilko.

Carolyn said: “I said to a lady that works there last week ‘I didn’t actually want anything today but I have to come in because of my dog’ and she laughed as most of them do.

“They all seem to take to her and she tends to always make someone laugh while she’s in store. I’ve told her she’s going to be a star – she thinks she’s a celebrity.

“She won’t have a drink on the way in but on the way out she will drink out of the water bowl and she always puts her paw in it just to leave her mark.”

Craig Cristofoli, Chipenham wilko Store Manager, said: “We are honoured to hire Jazz as our Paw Manager for the Chippenham branch – we couldn’t ask for a better representative of the doggy friends of wilko!

“All of our team members instore love when she visits just as much as she does and we can’t wait to welcome her and her owners again.

“We’re proud to have 248 dog-friendly stores nationwide and welcome all pooches to come along instore with their owners to browse our pet range – and even pick out their own treats!”