Clever dog 'buys' cookies every day with leaf currency

The pup trades his leaf for a cookie. Photo / A Pena J David, Facebook

A remarkable hound is bidding to prove that money does, in fact, grow on trees after developing his own leaf currency.

The black labrador, who lives at the Diversified Technical Education Institute of Monterrey Casanare, in Colombia, seemingly became jealous of humans using a local shop - so decided to take action, the Daily Mail reported.

After ripping a leaf from a nearby tree, the canny canine took it into the shop and presented it at the counter - leaving the owners gobsmacked.

"One day, spontaneously, he appeared with a leaf in his mouth, wagging his tail and letting it be known that he wanted a cookie," teacher Angela Garcia Bernal told The Dodo.

According to the store's managers, students used to buy the pup cookies but he didn't want to rely on human help to get his paws on food.

"He comes for cookies every day," sales assistant Gladys Barreto says.

"He always pays with a leaf. It is his daily purchase."

The dog was adopted by the staff of the nearby educational establishment and freely roams around the grounds.

But staff say he is now so wise to the trick that he comes back frequently throughout the day.

Because of this, the store's managers have said he can only be given two snacks a day - despite staff wanting to give him more.

"When you first see it, you almost want to cry," Angela said.

"He's found a way to make himself understood. He's very intelligent."