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Not all dogs look like their owners

Olympian Eamon Sullivan with French bulldogs Baxter and Duke. Picture: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

Olympic swimmer, TV star, underwear model and restaurateur are just some of the strings in Eamon Sullivan's bow - but parenting French bulldogs Baxter and Duke may be his biggest challenge.

Sullivan got the dogs three years ago and cannot imagine life without them and he makes sure they get time in his busy schedule.

"I hardly have time to cook for myself any more," he said. "But I usually give the boys some pretty good leftovers when I do."

The owner of North Fremantle restaurant Bib & Tucker said he had hoped Duke and Baxter would love the water as much as he did.

"Unfortunately, they love the beach but are terrified of waves," he said.

Sullivan, 28, had the family dachshund Heidi growing up but Baxter and Duke were his first pets since moving.

"I was in a small house in Sydney so I wanted a mid-size breed that was good indoors and didn't require much exercise," he said.

His pets proved just the ticket - small but "sort of manly" and not fluffy.

"I love how ugly yet cute they are," Sullivan said.

Despite less attractive habits - snores, licks and farts - Sullivan said life wouldn't be the same without them.