Victoria pooch among oldest French bulldogs in the world
A long-time barbershop employee in Victoria is among the oldest French bulldogs in the world.
The 13-year-old dog, Pierre, spends much of his time at the Victory Barber and Brand in downtown Victoria.
His owners, who also own the shop, bring him in every day.
"He's a full-time shop dog, hangs out 9 to 6," said Josh Van Leewuen, owner of Victory Barber and Brand.
Van Leewuen and his partner Crystal Currie have brought Pierre into the shop every day since the place opened.
"Yesterday was our 10-year anniversary," said Van Leewuen on Wednesday. "When we started, he was the size of a potato."
Now, Pierre is more of a large rump roast. Typically, the heaviest male Frenchies top out around 28 pounds. Pierre is a bit heftier.
"He's 40 pounds," said Van Leewuen.
The heavyweight pup is also in the running for oldest French bulldog in the world.
According to the American Kennel Club, the oldest French bulldog on record is 14-and-a-half years old.
At 13, Pierre could top the record, says Currie.
"We just want to know if Pierre is the oldest Frenchie across Canada," she said.
"We're going for the world record," she added.
While Pierre might not know how to work the business end of some clippers, he has an important role at the barbershop: to give love.
Even though Frenchies aren't a working breed, Pierre has no plans to retire from this Victoria shop any time soon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.