What was this children’s book from the 1990s?

[SullysBabyMama]

When I was in Year 2, my class teacher read us a chapter book about a dog, possibly a sheepdog but I could be wrong about that. I remember it having some pretty heavy/sad storylines, possibly about some animals being drowned in the river by a human (presumably these would be puppies). Anyway, we got halfway through and then moved onto the next topic-The Hobbit- and never finished it! And forever more I have wanted to read the rest!
I stumbled across A Street Dog Named Pup in the library with my own child and we are halfway through. I really believed this was MY book, except online it says it was published in 2021 and of course MY book was around in about 1996/7.
Does anyone of a similar age to me or with children a similar age remember a book of this description? I know it’s not much to go off but I have seen wonders on here!

Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones has puppies being thrown into a river, but it’s also got a god who is punished to be a dog on earth for a lifetime so definitely has some fantastical elements.

Can you remember any names of characters at all?

Might it be Jess the Border Collie? I remember reading them in the 90s

The dog punished to be on Earth for a lifetime is possible as there is also yhis fantasy part of A Street Dog Named Pup that I thought I remembered, there is a famous myth involving Sirius the dog in the stars.

I will go check out these options, ta.

Shadow the sheep dog? By Enid Blyton. I remember reading this in the late '90s.

It’s not a Dick King-Smith, is it? Daggie Dogfoot involves a river, but it’s about pigs rather than dogs.

@bookworm14 Dick King Smith wrote lots of dog books but I can’t see one that fits. Wondered if it was an early Morpurgo, but again nothing seems right. Dogsbody sounds likely but would you use it for year 2?

Was there a boy named Matt in the book? And the dog was black with a tiny bit of white on its chin? The breeder wanted to drown the dog because it was born with those white hairs and supposed to be a pedigree show standard black lab? The boy rescued and wants to keep the dog but his mother won't let him. I can't remember how it ends but I 'remember somehow the dog gets abandoned (family move and dog left behind?) But comes back to find Matt again? Can't recall title .

Loved Shadow the sheepdog. A favourite of mine.