The search is on to find the UK’s top canine hero as nominations open for the 2025 Kennel Club Hero Dog Award.
This prestigious award, presented at Crufts 2025, recognises extraordinary dogs who have made a significant impact on people’s lives. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust is supporting the award, which celebrates the unsung canine heroes of the UK.
Members of the public can nominate dogs that have made a difference in various ways, from working dogs and rescue dogs to those who simply provide companionship. Five finalists will be chosen from the nominations, each receiving a donation for their chosen canine charity. The winner will be decided by a public vote and announced at Crufts next year.
At Crufts 2024, search and rescue dog Vesper won the award, presented by Paralympian Libby Clegg. Vesper, alongside handler Niamh Darcy from Merseyside Fire and Rescue, was part of the UK International Search and Rescue Team deployed to aid in the rescue efforts following earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco. Their dedication helped locate survivors in these disaster zones.
Upon receiving the award, Niamh said: “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.”
Call for Nominations
The Kennel Club is now inviting the public to nominate their own canine heroes for the 2025 award. The Hero Dog Award seeks to recognise dogs who have shown courage, provided vital support, or offered companionship that has made a significant difference in someone’s life.
Nominations are open across several categories:
- Extraordinary life of a working dog – Recognising dogs working in fields such as the army, police, RAF, or search and rescue.
- Hero support dog – Celebrating assistance dogs that support those with disabilities, including medical detection dogs and therapy animals.
- Best friends – For dogs who have been loyal companions through both challenging and happy times.
- Child’s champion – Recognising dogs that have positively impacted a child’s life.
- Rescue dog hero – Celebrating rescue dogs that have overcome adversity to improve the lives of their owners.
Winner to Be Announced at Crufts 2025
Nominations will remain open until 20 October 2024. After that, five finalists will be chosen to attend Crufts 2025, where the overall winner will be revealed on Sunday, 9 March. The winner will receive £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for their chosen dog charity, while the runners-up will each receive £1,000 for their charities.
Cathy Guiver, Head of Events at The Kennel Club, expressed the significance of the award: “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.”
Guiver also encouraged the public to get involved: “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 submitted through the Crufts website until 20 October. The finalists will be announced in early 2025, ahead of the main event at the NEC in Birmingham, from 6 to 9 March 2025.
