The Original
Australian Dog Of The Year Awards
With our tails wagging, we present the Australian Dog of The Year Finalists for 2023!
Can I get a WOOF-WOOF?!😎 🐶 🐕
Charity: Integra Service Dogs Australia
Delia is my lifeline to the world. Without her I wouldn’t be able to leave home. I’m a Veteran with PTSD & other challenges. Delia is my Psychiatric Assistance Dog. Her ability to assist me in dealing with panic attack-inducing situations is amazing. At night when I have nightmares, she’s right there. She’ll place her head on my chest & make sure I am ok. She’s my hero.
Location: Lake Macquarie, NSW
Charity: Guide Dogs Australia
Ferris is a School therapy dog. He’s had such a positive impact on the everyone’s wellbeing. Ferris greets students & staff every morning. Then he is on to help support the kids in therapy sessions, visits to classrooms for reward time and listening to story time.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Charity: Forever Home Pet Rescue Inc
I adopted Gordon as a puppy. In his first 12 months, he supported me through chemo & radiation. Turning 1, Gordon became a Canine Blood Donor & has donated blood every 3 months since. Last year, at 3, Gordon became the first Anatolian Shepherd in the world to achieve his Advance Trick Dog Title.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Charity: Peter MacCallum
Lulu is the smartest, cheekiest and most sensitive puppy. All of 2022 I was battling cancer and this angel helped me to get out of bed every day. She knew when I was very unwell and cuddled up to me while I was going through a battle. My goal is to train her to be a therapy dog & to give back to Peter Mac.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Charity: Hear No Evil, Deaf Dog Rescue
Moose is hearing & vision impaired. He’ll likely lose his eyes at some point. He’s a Hear No Evil Ambassador, attending events & sharing his story to raise awareness & show what differently abled dogs are capable of. The most special interactions are where Moose sits on the lap of people in wheelchairs while they stroke & whisper to him. Moose lets people know that it’s okay to be different.
Location: Lake Macquarie
Charity: Epilepsy Action Australia
I’ve lived with uncontrolled epilepsy for 11 years. Baloo is a seizure alert assistance dog who alerts 3 to 5 minutes prior to oncoming seizures. She’s saved my life multiple times, including when I’ve stopped breathing and required CPR. He also protects me from falls daily. Baloo has given me back my life back.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Charity: Australian Dingo Foundation
Gipsy’s natural empathy helped me through clinical depression. He reacted to my dropping mood & outbursts of tears with just laying his head on my lap or cuddling up to me. On days I was unable to leave the bed he brought his toys or his lead and wouldn’t give in until he motivated me to play. I honestly owe my life to this beautiful soul.
Location: Macedon Ranges, VIC
Leo is a therapy dog with Delta Therapy organisation. We visit an Aged Care facility fortnightly. Leo brings so much comfort, cuddles and smiles to the residents who mostly have dementia. Many residents are unable to get out of bed so Leo jumps on bed and rests his head on their chest. Leo has also attended universities, hospitals & workplaces to provide therapy.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Charity: Animals Australia
Bai volunteered as a Delta dog in aged care. One visit, she headed to a closed-door. On entering, I saw a family crying around a gentleman. We were asked to stay- the man loved dogs & had been unreactive for 2 weeks. Bai trotted up, jumped onto the bed and lay on top of the man. Suddenly, amazingly, the man, lifted his hand & patting Bai. The room erupted with simultaneous crying and laughter from the family. The room was empty on our next visit.
Location: Gisborne, VIC
Charity: Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation
Elton’s an assistance dog in training to my son Charlie. Charlie has autism, an intellectual disability, and a severe heart condition. He’s had over 120 hospital admissions and has already had 2 strokes and 7 heart surgeries. Elton has been with Charlie for some hospital admissions & is learning to help with seizures. He brings light to very hard times.
Location: Canberra, ACT
Charity: Animal Welfare League Queensland
Darcy saved my life and now works by my side. Darcy came into my life after suicide attempts, hospitalisations & failed therapy. It was life-saving. He trained to help me with my disorders. It was because of his support that I was able to go back to uni. He walked the stage by my side as I graduated with 2 degrees. We then started together at a School and have a continuous positive impact. He was own ID card this year as he’s now seen as another staff member.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Charity: Miracle Assistance Dogs
Baxter is an integral part of the Neuro Alliance team. He comes to work every day where we provide medical and allied health services to people with a condition requiring complex rehabilitation. He puts a smile on everyone’s face every day. He works 1 on 1 and in our groups. Some clients will only participate in their sessions if Baxter is present.
Location: Maitland, NSW
Charity: Guide Dogs QLD
Keegan has saved me during some of the darkest months of my life. He is a trained guide dog. June 2021, I was diagnosed with terminal brain deterioration & given 3 months to live. If not for Keegan’s love, affection, and companionship, I wouldn’t be here today. Keegan made it possible to set myself goals including completion of all 118 parkruns in QLD. I achieved my goal and was crowned a QLD Statesperson. Keegan can sense when my PTSD flares up and immediately settles me back into a controlled state. He is dedicated to his life as a guide dog.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Charity: Paws for Diabetics
I’ve been a diabetic for 28 years. I was struggling with diabetic lows at work. Not only does Baxter ‘paw’ me when I suffer these, he also provides support when I was suffering anxiety from job pressures. I worked in an office with over 100 people and Baxter also makes their day brighter.
Location: Canberra, ACT
Charity: Guide Dogs Australia
I truly believe Banner saves me each & every day. Since the moment we started working together he restored my confidence, brought back my adventurous spirit & helped me find my voice as a disability advocate. From board rooms to classrooms to morning news, Banner has let me to be seen and heard. Together we break down stereotypes of what it is to be blind. Banner is the superhero who changed my life – and together we’re changing the world.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Her Beauty and Her Terror – the wide brown land for me
Written by: Guide Dog Woody about his life with The Blind Chick
I am the Dreamtime.
The keeper of the flame.
My golden eyes become hers.
Independence, mobility and freedom arrive with me.
Her confidence returns.
I am Australian.
She may be blind to others; she is not blind to me.
She doesn’t need sight; she sees with her heart.
I am her knight in shining armour, upon life’s battlefield.
I am Australian.
They call me a Guide Dog,
But I’m so much more than that.
I guide, I encourage, I protect.
I am friend, companion.
When she doubts herself, hesitates – I know.
I step up. We are one.
We are Australian.
We are one, my Blind Chick and I, but we help many.
We share a reality – Vision is much more than Seeing.
I am, we are, Australian.
Location: NSW
