The nationwide search begins today (23 September) for the UK’s top dog, as nominations open for The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award. The award, which will be presented at Crufts 2025 and is supported by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, celebrates extraordinary unsung canine heroes and their impact on our lives.
Nominations for those dogs who deserve to be recognised for the difference they make can be submitted here, with categories spanning from rescue and working dogs, to simply ‘best friends.’ From the nominations, five heroic finalists, each of whom are awarded donations for their canine charity of choice, will head to Crufts next year, with a public vote deciding the winner.
At this year's Crufts, search and rescue dog Vesper was announced as the winner of the prestigious 2024 award by Paralympian Libby Clegg, aired live on Channel 4. Vesper, and her handler Niamh Darcy from Merseyside Fire and Rescue, were part of the UK International Search and Rescue Team deployed by the Government to aid in the rescue mission following the horrific earthquakes in both Turkey and Morocco, where they worked tirelessly to locate survivors.
On being presented with Vesper’s award, Niamh commented: “The whole competition has really moved me. It shows what dogs mean to people – not just to me – and the differences and the changes they make to people's lives.”
The Kennel Club, organisers of Crufts, is now searching for more inspirational four-legged friends and is calling for the public to nominate those unsung canine heroes who deserve to be recognised for what they do for its Hero Dog Award 2025.
The winner will be revealed at Crufts on Sunday 9 March and will be awarded £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for a dog charity of their choice. Runners up will receive £1,000 for their chosen dog charity.
Nominations for four-legged heroes can be made in the following categories:
- Extraordinary life of a working dog – For those who have shown extraordinary qualities working in the army, police force, RAF, airport, search and rescue etc;
- Hero support dog – Celebrating all support and assistance dogs, from medical detection dogs or hearing dogs to therapy dogs or pets who provide emotional support;
- Best friends – Celebrating a canine companion who has seen its owner through the hardest times, as well as the happiest;
- Child’s champion – Recognising a dog that has supported and had a positive impact on a child's life (aged 16 and under);
- Rescue dog hero – For a rescue dog who has overcome adversity and gone on to irrevocably improve the life of their owner/s.
Nominations are open until 20 October 2024 and five finalists will be chosen to go forward to the final at Crufts 2025, where the overall winner, selected by public vote, will be announced before the Best in Show grand finale on Sunday 9 March.
Cathy Guiver, Head of Events at The Kennel Club which runs Crufts, commented: “Every day, countless dogs are out there making a difference – whether they’re protecting us, empowering and aiding people with disabilities, or simply offering unconditional love and companionship. The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award, with the prestigious final held at Crufts, celebrates this incredible impact our canine heroes have on our lives.”
“We want to hear your stories of dogs who have changed a life, brought comfort, or shown extraordinary courage. We invite everyone who owns or knows a dog that has made a remarkable difference to nominate their unsung canine hero and help us shine a spotlight on why dogs are truly our best friends.”
Nominations can be made via the Crufts website until 20 October. Finalists will be announced next year, ahead of the winner being crowned at Crufts 2025, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 6 - 9 March 2025.