Dogs are often called man's best friend – but they can also be man's greatest saviour, exceeding the expectations of loyalty and companionship to display brilliant acts of courage and sacrifice.
From the dogs that guided their owners to safety during the terror attacks of 9/11 to the family pet that rescued a child from a potentially lethal entrapment, these extraordinary dogs have gone above and beyond to save lives. Here are some of the stories of the bravest dogs in history and the accolades, awards and medals they have won along the way.
Bravest dogs
Baloo the Belgian shepherd
Eight-year-old Baloo won the Kennel Club’s Hero Dog award at Crufts in 2025, having been the finalist from the Extraordinary Working Dog category. When the police dog was on duty in 2018, he was hit by a suspect’s car fleeing a crime scene, resulting in devastating injuries and the amputation of one of her legs.
As she was recovering, Baloo’s handler Mandy took her to the team at Essex police force who had been impacted by the incident, which became hugely beneficial for the mental health of officers and staff alike. Baloo and Mandy led to the introduction of the “Oscar Kilo” wellbeing and trauma support dogs service, and there are now over 250 support dogs nationwide.
Buster the English springer spaniel
Trained as an arms and explosive search dog in the RAF Police, Buster was deployed to Iraq, where his unit came under fire in 2003. Buster helped his unit locate the enemy base, which led to the end of the attacks, saving the lives of soldiers and civilians.
Did you know? English springer spaniels are among the best active dogs for active people.
Beauty the wire fox terrier
Beauty was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1946 after helping to locate buried air raid victims during World War Two, while serving with a PDSA Rescue Squad.
Did you know? The smooth fox terrier is among the rarest dog breeds in the UK.
Vesper the Belgian shepherd
In 2024, four-year-old Vesper was announced as the winner of the Kennel Club Hero Dog Award at Crufts. Vesper was initially deemed unsuitable to become a police dog, but Niamh Darcy, a dog handler from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, took on Vesper when she was 18 months old.
In 2023, Niamh and Vesper were part of the UK’s International Search and Rescue Team and deployed to aid in the rescue mission following the earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco, working to locate the survivors.
Judy the English pointer
Judy was on board the HMS Grasshopper in 1942 when the ship was torpedoed by Japanese aircraft. The crew swam to a nearby desert island, where Judy saved them by identifying a water source. The sailors walked 200 miles through jungle to Sumatra with Judy, but they were unfortunately captured by Japanese troops. Judy was declared as an official prisoner of war – the only dog to be granted this status, and saved her from the wrath of the camp guards.
With Leading Aircraftman Frank Williams, Judy was moved to several POW camps before being sent back to Singapore on a transport ship. When the boat was torpedoed, Judy rescued dozens of prisoners by sourcing driftwood for them to cling to. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1946.
Kuno the Belgian shepherd
In 2020, a retired British military dog received the Dickin Medal for valour after he was injured in action while tackling an al-Qaida gunman. The three-year-old Belgian shepherd dog (Malinois) and his handler were deployed with the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service in a raid on a compound in 2019. Under grenade and machine-gun fire, Kuno tackled the gunman, allowing the mission to be successfully completed. During the process, Kuno was shot in both legs, and part of one leg had to be amputated. He then became the first UK military working dog to be fitted with custom-made prosthetic limbs.
Salty and Roselle, Labrador guide dogs
Guide dogs Salty and Roselle were awarded the Dickin Medal in 2002 following their support of their owners during the terror attack on the World Trade Center in New York on 11 September. They showed great courage and loyalty to their owners as they led them down 70 flights of stairs to safety.
Did you know? Labradors are among the best dogs for families and children.
Mali the Belgian shepherd
The eight-year-old Belgian malinois helped protect UK soldiers by detecting explosives and insurgents, and was awarded the Dickin Medal for his bravery. Despite being injured by a grenade, Mali completed his mission and has since retired from frontline duties and made a full recovery.
Teddy the cockapoo
It’s rare that a family pet gets acknowledged for their life-saving care, but Teddy was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in 2018 after she alerted her owners when their young son Riley became dangerously trapped in a tumble dryer. Riley, who has Down’s syndrome, had climbed into the tumble dryer and pulled the door shut, which set off the drying cycle. Teddy barked and growled, which alerted Riley’s mother Gillian to the situation. Riley was treated for bruises and burns, but lived to tell the tale, thanks to Teddy’s help.
Which breed of dog is the bravest?
Of the Dickin Medal recipients over the years, German shepherds have been awarded 11 medals, while Belgian malinois and Labradors have both one five each. Springer spaniels have won twice. German shepherds, Labradors and English springer spaniels are among the most popular dog breeds in the UK.
King George V had Labradors, so we've included them in our round-up of the Royal family's dogs.