HOPPING Russell the house rabbit has shown that he can compete with dogs when it comes to being a man's best friend.

Because Russell, a black and white Dutch breed, has been house trained to keep his owner's home in good and tidy order.

Julie Harris, 51, snapped up Russell when he was a baby and taught him to only toilet in his cage, which she keeps inside her lounge. He picked up the lesson and is now trusted to run freely in the home when Julie is around.

Julie, of Hatters Lane, High Wycombe, said the carrot muncher, aged five-and-a-half, was unlike any other. She said: "I have had rabbits living outside before and then I lost my cat so I thought I would go for something different.

"I would say he is more like a cat than a dog. He is independent and does his own thing. He will go out when he wants to go out.

"He is lovely - he is my best mate really. His cage is always his own space and I will stay away from it when he is in there."

Julie taught Russell by making him toilet in a tray before placing the used sawdust back in a corner of his cage.

Russell soon got the message and has lived in bunny harmony with his owner ever since.

He is allowed out around the house as soon as Julie returns from work.

Julie said: "He plays with his toys first for about five minutes and then goes to sleep for an hour under the table.

"He likes to go out in the garden during the summer and comes back when he feels like it.

"The only thing I couldn't train him for was wires. He can't stop chewing wires."

Julie added that Russell even respects her own space.

She said: "He knows he is not allowed in my bedroom and if he goes in there he will come shooting out when I come in."