DOGS HAVE regional accents just like their owners, a study claims.

The ‘woof guide’ found Scouse and Scottish pets have the most distinctive growl - but there were differences in tone and pitch across the country.

Dog and animal behaviour experts staged a national poll using a special barkline, where hundreds of dog owners were asked to phone and leave recorded messages of their voice as well as their dogs barking and growling. The sounds were then compared by a panel of experts and ‘TV Vet’ Emma Milne. The team noticed that there were definite regional variations in dog barks across the UK - with Scottish dogs having the strongest accent. It is believed that dogs can pick up the tone and pitch of their owners' voices.

The analysts found that a majority of Scottish dogs had a distinctive ‘rolling’ bark which is typical of the way Scots talk.

Dog behaviourist Tracey Gudgeon, of the Canine Behaviour Centre in Cumbria, said: ‘I noticed a stronger pitch and tone in the Scottish dogs’ bark which resembled the Scots accent clearly. It seems dogs are more able to imitate stronger, more distinctive accents than softer ones. It's one of the ways they bond with their owner.’

Regional accents for dogs? Are they Barking? Or are they from Romford, innit?