Share your pet's special skill by Tuesday 5 July to win one of FIVE signed copies of Julia Donaldson's new book The Detective Dog!

[SorchaMumsnet]

Join Nell the Detective and help her solve the mystery of the missing books!

There once was a dog with a keen sense of smell. She was known far and wide as Detective Dog Nell. Peter's dog Nell has an amazing sense of smell. But Nell has other talents too. Every Monday she goes to school with Peter and listens to children read. So who better to have on hand when they arrive one morning to discover that the school's books have all disappeared! Who could have taken them? And why? There's only one dog for the job ... and Detective Dog Nell is ready to sniff out the culprit!

The Detective Dog is written by the brilliant Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo and stunningly illustrated by the multi-talented illustrator Sara Ogilvie of Dogs Don’t do Ballet fame.

Does your pet have an unusual talent like Nell? Share your pet's special skill for chance to win one of FIVE copies of The Detective Dog, signed by much-loved children's author Julia Donaldson!

Find out more and buy the book

This competition ends and we will announce the lucky five winners on 5 July

This discussion is sponsored by Macmillan Children's Books

[Lucyeleven]

Our dog loves shaking hands with everyone!

[rhinosuze]

My little ones guinea pig can actually stand on its hind legs (but then of course she wobbles over, don't think she has realised she should be on all fours yet)

[iklboo]

Our smallest cat wakes me up at 4:30am every morning. On the dot. Even when the clocks are changed. I'm sure he can actually tell the time.

I don't need to get up at 4:30, but this all adds to his fun. Putting his paw in my mouth was probably his way of telling me I don't look very ladylike when I'm asleep.

[BearAusten]

We had a springer spaniel, who was something of a magician. He would make towels, socks, cakes, biscuits, literally anything edible and sometimes the inedible, disappear. Only very rarely did it reappear again though. He also used to vanish into thin air on beaches and woods.

[starlight36]

We had a goldfish who was great at hide and seek. He'd either swim right behind our other fish, or hide behind the weed or behind the little decorative bridge. I remember finding it fun trying to find him but my mother said it was quite alarming for her frantically checking he was still there!

[Boygirlmummy]

My boy cat can jump up and open doors, any doors, amazing skill but quite dangerous with a baby and preschooler at home...!

[BatmanLovesMarmite]

My mum's springer spaniel is her key to life. He helps her load and unload the washing machine, brings her the post, picks up anything she drops, unpulls knitting for her. He even knows to get dad's and brothers' wallets from wherever they put them! Mum taught him how to do it all

Without him, mum would have a much more difficult life (she has limited mobility) - he's such a lovely dog. He's getting old now

[Givemecoffeeplease]

My cat can identify when I have new tights on and will also instantly ladder them. He has snagged so many of my fave clothes, but never my knackered old pjs. He's got ace fashion sense.

[pennwood]

The dog can let us know when he wants to come in by lifting the front door letterbox & letting it fall to make a noise, & if this fails he comes around the back to the patio door to stand on two legs staring at us.

[NeedACleverNN]

My kitten has perfected meerkatting

She stand on her back legs and looks around like a meerkat

she then pounces on your foot as if it's a scorpion that needs killing

[EDisFunny]

My dog was very attentive to me as soon as I fell pregnant and all throughout my pregnancy. I felt rather protected.

[llewejk]

Grandma's dog has a very special talent to know when the grandchildren are unwell. The last time my little girl was poorly and Grandma helped to look after her the dog sat on her feet all the time keeping a watch over her.

[agnapoop]

My dog sits on his back legs with his paws in the air when I shout freeze and point at him.

[Fleur78]

My dog loves the trampoline and will even get on it when the kids are in bed.
All this time I've been lifting her up into the car, she had me fooled!

[missytilley]

Ole has mastered the art of silent barking He barks we say hush he still opens his mouth without sound So cheeky

[Belo]

My cat brings home dead worms, and live mice and distributes them around the house. We are not impressed.

[Khaly]

My dog sings (howls) to the Coronation St theme tune

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Big Dave the cat loves to give cuddles. He puts his paws and legs round your neck and snuggles in . Every morning DD gets a hug.

[Valski]

My daughters have two baby tortoises and although they have grown since they hatched (not at our house, but at a breeding centre thankfully) we have had terrible trouble locating them in their cage. The smaller one of the two, Yasmin, is frequenting giving us all a fright..! We have now opted for using a straw to locate Yasmin, and even if we can't see her we know she is safe and neither of our two cats have had their eyes on them!

Apart from Pumpkin our cat losing his collar (frequently) not sure Sweetcorn can do anything, but she did win third place in an animal contest! No skills were required!

[Mindfulofmuddle]

I was frightened of having my hair washed as a small child - I cried and wailed as soon as I got wind it was in the offing! Our cat (who loathed water like most cats) avoided the bathroom at all costs usually, but as soon as she heard me crying at hair washing time, she would come right in and wind around my legs, mewing in solidarity! Compassion was her special talent

[smithsurvey14]

Our 2 cat's both have a sixth sense about when anyone is going for a walk. If you are going out in the car the cats are nowhere to be seen but if anyone goes out for a walk they suddenly have 2 black shadows stalking them. It is fun if I am taking my son out cycling or walking for entertainment but when my husband goes out for exercise he has to lock them inside before he sets off or they slow him down too much.

[sylwright]

One of my cats can open doors. He jumps at the handle and pulls it down then pushes the door open.

[kateandme]

my girl has the art of being my saviour.and that is the most special skill. for years she kept me going through the most horrific illness. both emotionally as my best friend. but on physical too,i fainted she would lie with me and nudge me till I woke or drag me somewhere safe. she wasn't trained for this she isn't a special skills Labrador, she just grew up with me and we became almost as one. we know eachother insdie out no eachothers emotions all the way through.i love her.shes my every breathe.

[barricade]

Leadership skills!! --> The male of the twin cats in our family is a right Top Cat, ruling the neighbourhood cat gang. They always gather at the park (which connects to the back gardens of houses along that side of the road) ... they do not move without a "nod" from our TC, only play ball when he initiates ... what else they get up to only they know.

[thesoupdragon44]

We have two cats and the smallest one is always on hand each morning to see us off to school. I sometimes think she might like to come with us. She is sometimes on the doorstep when we get home too! I'm sure cats have secret watches?!