Wherever he goes people love to say "hello" to Barney, a three-year-old schnoodle dog with dreadlock hair. They've said it so many times that now Barney thinks his real name is "Hello".
The result is that he's always bouncing about with excitement, and wagging his tail like mad, believing that people are calling to him – even if they are greeting someone else 50 yards away.
"It's very confusing for him, them and me," says his owner John Dale, of Tallow Road, Brentford. "He's such a friendly, popular doggie that he takes it for granted that everyone is saying 'hello' to him personally when he's out for a walk.
"I noticed he was responding to strangers greeting each other on the opposite side of the street. He really thinks his real name is "Hello" – not Barney anymore. Even if people just exchange waves, he believes they're waving to him."
John adds: "It does cause confusion. It's also funny and his chosen role in life is to be a comedy doggie, full of fun, a canine version of Norman Wisdom. I won't be sending him back to school. If wants to answer to 'Hello', that's fine with me."