EVERYONE thought he was barking up the wrong tree when David Herbert, 21 said he was setting up a Mobile Dog Wash in the Southampton area.

But his venture is nothing to be sniffed at, as Mr Herbert is definitely not going to the dogs.

While still just a pup - the company is just three months old - it is already starting to turn a healthy profit.

"I bought the franchise from Greg Booth who had come up with the idea in Australia. I managed to come up with a bone-afide offer that he couldn't shake a stick at," quipped David. "I have a major love for dogs and grew up surrounded by them on my parents farm in South Africa."

The Dog Wash costs £10 for a small dog, such as a Jack Russell, and £20 for a large dog like a German shepherd.

The clean takes no more than 20 minutes, no matter what size and he vows never to make a dog's dinner out of it.

Many elderly residents have welcomed David's work, because it is not always easy for them to take their dogs to a parlour for cleaning or to do it themselves.

But it's no walk in the park for David either. The plucky young entrepreneur has been on the end of several vicious attacks from water phobic pooches.

"These attacks don't worry me at all" David remarked. "It is part of my job and I feel proud if I'm able to calm one down. I'm very confident about the future of the business. It had a slow start, but has gone from strength to strength and now I'm regularly cleaning about seven dogs a day".

His workspace is a fully equipped van, complete with grooming table, three work surfaces and a hydro bath. It cost about £18,000.

David aims to prove that every dog does indeed have its day.