Researchers in South Korea have produced the first cloned dog – a frisky black-and-white Afghan hound puppy – in a scientifically daunting feat eagerly anticipated by scientists and pet owners alike.

Snuppy was grown from an embryo containing DNA from the ear of a male hound selected for his gentle and docile nature, said researcher Woo Suk Hwang.

The 3-month-old puppy was the sole survivor among more than 1,000 cloned embryos that were transferred into surrogate mothers.

Cloning experts were impressed. Even as teams around the world produced cloned mice, rabbits, pigs, cows, cats and one horse, the eccentricities of the canine reproductive system have made it notoriously difficult to add man’s best friend to that list.

The researchers emphasized that their goal was not to reproduce beloved pets, but to develop genetically identical laboratory dogs for the study of diseases.