A popular success, taking a bow with a dog (3)
I believe the answer is:
wow
'a popular success' is the definition.
'wow' can be an answer for 'success' (I have seen 'Huge success' mean 'wow' so perhaps 'success' could also mean 'wow'). I am unsure of the 'a popular' bit.
'a bow with a dog' is the wordplay.
'a bow' suggests taking the first letters (bow can mean the front, eg on a ship).
'a dog' becomes 'ow' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
The first letter of 'with' is 'w'.
'w'+'ow'='WOW'
'taking' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wow that I've seen before include "Expression of great admiration" , "Exclamation of surprise or praise - a palindrome" , "Cor! - huge success" , "Palindromic exclamation of surprise or admiration" , "Palindrome exclamation of astonishment or admiration" .)