A KIRKBY Stephen Primary School reception teacher, who uses her dog to teach children about caring for each other and caring for animals, has won a national competition.

Tina Baines occasionally takes her ten-year-old bearded collie Max into school and introduces him to the pupils.

Her account of a visit made on Take Your Dog to Work Day landed her first prize in the Top Dog at Work 2000 contest, organised by animal welfare charity The Blue Cross.