John has now completed the enjoyable but very difficult job of deciding which of the flood of entries most tickled his fancy and has chosen a winner and three runners-up.

The first runner-up is Marcus Kittridge with this tale of admirable canine business acumen:

There once was a dog in Dundee
That did tricks on Long Loch for a fee
For a quid he'd dive in
For a score he would swim
For a ton he might just water ski.

Congratulations Marcus, your biscuits will be on their way once John's had a chance to pop round to Lidl.

The second runner-up, Mark Matthews, develops the entrepreneurial theme with this offering:

There once was a kennel in Kent
Where there lived a young poodle from Gent
He added a pool
People said "what a fool"
But he felt it was money well spent!

(Postscript - he went on to submit planning permission for a two storey extension with a garage but this was rejected by Ashford Borough Council....)

Splendid stuff Mark, sounds like you're drawing on personal experience there! Your biscuit bonanza is also at the top of John's in-tray.

And last but not least is this sad little story jointly penned by Jenny Doe and her son Alfie Bramall (aged 10):

There once was a kennel in Kent
Whose dog gave up chocolate for Lent
His teeth - they stopped rotting
His nose - it stopped snotting
But it all got much worse once Lent went.

A sterling effort you two - biscuits shall be your reward!

But the winner and writer of the world's best canine limerick of 2009 is Heather Chilvers, who obviously has a firm grasp of the way to John's heart:

There once was a dog from Dundee
Who invited John Hegley to tea
He plied him with cookies
and promise of nookies
and came home with tickets for me.

Mission accomplished Heather - enjoy the show!

Thanks again folks, you're stars every one!