... she just should've asked a Welshman.

I haven't seen the paper but did they have a headline of ' YOU MUST BE BAA-RKING' ?

It's of course not clear how to find a Welshman in sheep-free Japan, but if the Welshman sees a poodle, wouldn't he classify it as a sheep?

Because it's not like he'd mistake it for a dog, such a ninny misbred thing.

They certainly pulled the wool over her eyes.

(That's enough sheep puns. Editor)

Well a picture of this animal would be appreciated!

This has all the markings of the lesser spotted tabloid we-made-this-up story, so I had a little google.

Didn't find anything on the English language Japanese news sites, but www.google.co.jp did pop up this curious link...

"Kiefer Sutherland Fluffy Poodle Fluffy 動画 - MICKEY.TV"

Personally I'm too scared to follow the link"

Couldn't resist it.... sorry.

Is it normal for people, even celebrities, in Japan to never take their animals to the vet for regular medical care? Surely a vet would have set these people straight.

If the critter wasn't recognized as a sheep either, then sheep must be rare, too. So it should all balance out.

What is this article? Seems like I read this before: There was this lady who picked up a small dog on the street, only it was kinda strange and didn't eat right ...

Oh, that wasn't a sheep, it was rat. Right.

Urban legend? Or reality??

pictures plz

In a couple of months, a nice wool sweater, and mutton/leg of lamb on the menu. Very tasty!!

Obviously the owner has never been to New Zealand!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007190295,00.html

There's a picture here. Is this a joke?

http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?sid=15&aid=1981&vid=0&npage=

> "Kiefer Sutherland Fluffy Poodle Fluffy 動画 - MICKEY.TV"

About 10 years ago I went to Stonehenge. At the souvenir shop we were overwhelmed by the number of sheep-themed items for sale. We asked the assistant, who told us that the Japanese bought the sheep stuff, as they don't have sheep in Japan.

this is just simply a case of a vegetarian dog that was de-baahked. Doesn't explain why my giant collie only say Mooo though.

Had a look on Google Japan's News site for:

川上麻衣子 (Maiko Kawakami)

プードル (poodle)

羊 (sheep)

none of which turned up anything, so I'd have to say this is a load of Bah -loney

Has anyone else read Haruki Murakami's "A Wild Sheep Chase", then? I think there may be more sheep in Japan than we realise...

Mr Larrington

http://www.souzouzone.jp/blog/2007/04/media_flock_to.php

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447

And who else would have reported it?

Yep, a bit of Googling will show

where the story came from.

Have a look at this bit of sleuthing:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447

Nice try though!

Ok, so it's a load of nonsense... so let's have another supposedly true sheep-themed (and SFW) story...

A young teacher from Leeds had accepted a temporary job teaching a class of four-year-olds out in one of the most isolated, rural parts of north Wales. One of her first lessons involved teaching the letter S so she held up a big colour photo of a sheep and said: "Now, who can tell me what this is?" No answer. Twenty blank and wordless faces looked back at her. "Come on, who can tell me what this is?" she exclaimed, tapping the photo determinedly, unable to believe that the children were quite so ignorant. The 20 faces became apprehensive and even fearful as she continued to question them with mounting frustration.

Eventually, one brave soul put up a tiny, reluctant hand. "Yes!" she cried, waving the snap aloft. "Tell me what you think this is!" "Please, Miss," said the boy warily. "Is it a three-year-old Border Leicester?"

El Reg, you aren't just supposed to republish stories you read about. Journalism requires that you actually check your facts at the source and the users aren't supposed to have to do that for you!

http://www.snopes.com/critters/lurkers/poodlesheep.asp

Not only do you read The Sun, but you actually believed something you read in it? You're not supposed to do that! The words in The Sun are just there to help lay out the pretty pictures.