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Vote for your Dog Hero of the Year: meet the Crufts 2024 contenders

Celebrate these remarkable dogs and the profound impact they've made in the lives of their owners.

Free for editorial use image, please credit: BeatMedia/Kennel Club The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024 L-R Elyana Kuhlemeier (with Elyana Mum Silvie) and Gordon, Freya Harris and Echo (with Freya’s Mum Gemma Harris), Paralympic athlete Libby Clegg and The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024 ambassador, Niamh Darcy and Vesper, Jazz Turner and Phoebe. Golden Retriever Phoebe is the Hero Support Dog finalist in The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024. She helps her 25 year old owner, Jazz Turner, from Seaford, to live her life to the full after she was diagnosed with a life-limiting progressive condition. And together they help others too, volunteering at care homes, several local universities to help with stress, and with young people with learning difficulties. Australian Shepherd Echo and her young owner, Freya Harris, from Lincolnshire, are finalists in the Best Friends category of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024. 8-year-old Freya was diagnosed with a rare form of stage 4 cancer in 2021 and had to undergo surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with this gruelling treatment ongoing for over a year. Facing such adversity, pain and trauma, it was her Australian Shepherd dog and best friend, Echo, who helped her to pull through, and the pair incredibly made it to Crufts last year, overcoming all the odds and fulfilling Freya’s childhood dream. Search and rescue dog Vesper is the finalist in the Extraordinary Life of a Working Dog category in The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024. Vesper, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, has saved lives and given hope across the world with her handler, Niamh Darcy from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. In 2023, Niamh and Vesper were part of the chosen UK International Search and Rescue Team and were 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. Hearing dog Gordon is the Child’s Champion finalist in The K

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Published: March 9, 2024 at 1:35 am

It's a truth universally known that dogs are cherished members of the family. Yet for some owners, they play a unique and important role in their lives, transforming the bond beyond a much-loved pet. In light of such extraordinary relationships, some of these special dogs are put forward for the annual Kennel Club Hero Dog Award.

What is The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award?

The annual Kennel Club Hero Dog Award is a heartfelt celebration of the unique bond between people and their dogs. It honours the vital role that man's best friend plays throughout our lives, providing unwavering support in times of adversity.

Who won The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2023

Paralympian Libby Clegg, the award's ambassador, will unveil the overall winner at the NEC in Birmingham during the final day of Crufts on Sunday, March 10. The announcement will be broadcast on Channel 4.

In recognition of their exceptional contributions, the winner and all finalists will receive donations from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for their chosen canine charity, fostering positive change in the lives of dogs.

Read on to find out which dogs have made the final of this year’s Kennel Club Hero Dog Award and have your say with the online vote:

The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024: Vote for your favourite

This year there are four finalists. Find out more in their specially made videos below, and then vote for your Hero Dog:

Child’s Champion

Hearing dog Gordon and 12-year-old Elyana Kuhlemeier

Vote for Gordon and Elyana

Extraordinary Life of a Working Dog

Search and rescue dog Vesper, and her handler Niamh Darcy

Vote for Vesper and Niamh

Best Friends

Australian Shepherd Echo, and her best friend, Freya Harris

Vote for Echo and Freya

Hero Support Dog

Phoebe a Golden Retriever, and Jazz Turner her 25-year-old owner

Vote for Phoebe and Jazz

Visiting the show?

Buy tickets to visit this year's show, which takes place from 7 – 10 March at the NEC, Birmingham.

Find out more about Crufts 2024

Don't miss out on the action at this year's show with our ultimate guide to Crufts 2024 and our selection of heartwarming photos from Crufts.