Ai Chihuahua!

Praying dog joins temple

A chihuahua has begun joining in daily prayers at a Buddhist temple in Japan.

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Attendances have increased by 30% since temple pet, two-year-old Conan, started attending.

Conan sits on his hind legs, raises his paws and puts them together at the tip of his nose, reports the BBC.

"He may be showing his thanks for treats and walks," says a priest at Jigenin temple on Okinawa island.

Priest Joei Yoshikuni would like Conan to meditate, but "it's not like we can make him cross his legs", he says.

Mr Yoshikuni said it only took Conan a few days to imitate the motions of praying.

"I think he saw me doing it all the time and got the idea to do it too," he said.