WHAT do you get when you cross a Rottweiler with a Yorkshire terrier?

It may sound like a joke but Newport dog owner Michael Pugsley is set to find out after his two dogs bred a rather unusual offspring.

Vets were amazed when they delivered puppy Rocky - the first Rottweiler/ Yorkshire terrier-cross they had ever seen.

What's more, the mum is 14 years old and the dad just eight months.

Two days before Christmas the family's long-haired terrier, Jess, suddenly started panting and was in a lot of pain. Mr Pugsley, of Maindee, Newport, and his daughter, Simone, ten, took Jess to the vet, never once suspecting the ageing dog was in labour.

When the vet revealed the news they were puzzled - the only dog Jess had had any contact with recently was their eight-month-old Rottweiler puppy, Buster.

Then they received a blow when the vet suggested Jess be put down because she was too old to give birth, and likely to die.

It was also feared the unborn puppy was already dead.

"My daughter was in the room and she started crying because Jess is her dog," Mr Pugsley said.

"I asked if there was any chance she would survive the Caesarean.

"I said if there was a possibility then to do it. I didn't care about the money."

When the phone call came to let them know Jess and the puppy were both fine, the family were delighted - especially Simone.

"All her Christmases came at once," Mr Pugsley said.

"It's unbelievable. We're wondering if anyone else has one so we know what he'll look like when he's older."

They realised the brown and black puppy, which they named Rocky, was the offspring of Buster the minute they saw him.

"He's got the same markings as Buster."

Rocky was born at Summerhill Veterinary Centre in Newport, where head nurse Gareth Ford confirmed all had gone well with the birth and the Rottweiler was believed to be the dad.

"It is unusual, I don't think I have ever seen anything similar in 15 years. I have seen it occasionally with bigger dogs but never quite that extreme."