There were enough shaggy dog stories being peddled around a rumour-fuelled Hillsborough yesterday without the first pet getting in on the act. Peter Mandelson's golden retriever, Bobby, has become the unexpected star of what Tony Blair says is the only show in town.
He was used as a political pawn to good effect by the DUP. The spin-dog, they said, was an example of how their relationship with Mr Blair now stood. Refused entry to the castle, Peter Robinson, the deputy leader of the DUP, pointed out that the dog got a better reception than the politicians. "The dog inside is better treated," he moaned.
"The Secretary of State's dog gets fed and watered and led around the garden and has complete free rein to do what it will while we are kept outside, worse than the dog inside."
Earlier, Bobby had accompanied his master on a morning jog around the grounds. Wearing white shorts and a blue sports top, Mandelson completed the last part of his run with Bobby by his side.
The usually faithful companion decided not to follow him into the castle, preferring to stay outside where he proceeded to trample all over a well-tended flower bed. It wasn't just Bobby who was afforded an inside track. Even the dogs in the street knew that there was serious business going down in the corridors of the castle. The sunny afternoon meant most of the politicians emerged to pace the forecourt. At one point Bertie Ahern could be seen chatting animatedly to Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly.
As Mr Adams sipped from a bottle of mineral water, Mr Mandelson and Alistair Campbell departed for an al fresco tete-a-tete. But they were all upstaged by Bobby, who appeared again, almost toppling his RUC handler as he strained at the leash.
There was nothing strained about the relationship between the British and Irish governments, Mr Blair had told the media earlier when asked about rumours to the contrary.
He said he had one of the best relationships in his political life with Bertie Ahern, for whom he had the utmost respect.
The British Prime Minister showed that despite the double blow of Labour's council and mayoral defeats, he had not lost his knack for heart-warming rhetoric.
He spoke of Belfast in glowing terms, pointing out that the Irish League of Credit Unions had chosen to hold its conference in the city last week.
This was a hopeful sign of the times. Not quite as hopeful was the increasingly accurate assessment, as Bobby made yet another appearance, that Northern Ireland is being run by one man and his dog.