Steve Taylor 0:00

The search has begun for the UK's most inspiring canine as Crofts opens nominations for the 2027 Hero Dog Awards. The annual awards celebrate dogs whose courage, loyalty, and unconditional love transforms lives. One of those special dogs is Shawood, a record-breaking Gordon setter from Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire, who became a canine lifesaver by making over 40 blood donations to the Pet Blood Bank UK. Shawood was a finalist, delighted to be joined by his owner Sue Mitchell, who I think, Sue, if I'm correct, you're you're out in the middle of a very large field in the countryside giving Shawood a run-out.

Sue Mitchell 0:39

Yes, he's with his son and his other older companion. Our younger dog is at home. He's only just 13 months old.

Steve Taylor 0:46

Now, Sue, cast your mind back and you were in the big ring uh at Crufts. What was going through your mind? What was the experience like for you that day?

Sue Mitchell 0:55

Well, it's quite daunting because obviously, um, along with the other finalists, sure, the centre of attention, uh, you just hope that uh you don't put a foot wrong and the dog doesn't show you up. So uh yes, it was uh a lovely experience.

Steve Taylor 1:11

Now tell me about Shaw. This is uh an incredible achievement. Uh Guinness Book of Records, World Records Certificate for donating 40 times.

Sue Mitchell 1:20

He's got two Guinness Book of Records certificates. He's now retired because they have to retire at nine years of age, but he's actually donated 45 times.

Steve Taylor 1:28

Wow. People may not know that there is a pet blood bank. Uh just explain what it is soon, why it's so important and why you and Shawood are so keen to uh to be involved.

Sue Mitchell 1:38

Well, it's um a charity based in Scotland, um, and it's just a lifesaver for any dog, any size, any breed. Um, you never know when your dog may have an accident or a condition that causes it to have problems with its blood. And I just feel that you know if your dog can give uh a pint of blood on each donation, that helps towards saving many dogs' lives.

Steve Taylor 2:03

Absolutely. I think Shovel was quite young when you first got involved.

Sue Mitchell 2:07

He was just over 12 months, they have to be 12 months of age, but he was 12 months and he donated, as I said, right up until he was nine years of age, which is brilliant. Also a testament to his health, because obviously, if they're not healthy, they can't donate.

Steve Taylor 2:22

Do you get any sort of feedback? Do you know how many other dogs' lives uh may have been saved because of uh because of this?

Sue Mitchell 2:29

Well, with Shawood, um it's over 180 dogs because every pint that's donated can save up to four dogs' lives. Good. So I'll let you give a map.

Steve Taylor 2:39

Yeah, that's quite a lot, isn't it? Let's just say it's quite a lot, which is which is really good. The nominations process for um for Hero Dog, when you you first sort of decided that it might be a good idea to to get involved, did you think that you might end up as a finalist and and in that big arena?

Sue Mitchell 2:54

It never crossed my mind. Um I just thought, you know, it's nice to give something back to an organization, and if you've got the right dogs with the right temperament and obviously the right weight, it's well worth taking the time out. It only takes probably two or three hours to go and give a donation with your dog.

Steve Taylor 3:12

So at the NEC there were a number of finalists, which I'm sure some of you uh you you may have uh you may have got to know. It was quite an emotional day, wasn't it?

Sue Mitchell 3:22

Absolutely, because every dog, you know, has a lot to give, whatever, whatever they're doing. And I just think it's lovely that you know dogs can be seen in a very positive light, but they can do things within the community.

Steve Taylor 3:34

What would you say, Sue, to anybody who is listening to the the story of you in Shawood and uh who might be thinking, you know, I my dog is a bit of a hero, I think I might enter. Well, what advice would you give them?

Sue Mitchell 3:46

Well, first of all, for actually giving blood, your dog's got to be over 25 kilos in weight, and there are other criteria that you can find on their website for actually donating blood. But you've got to have the dog with the right temperament who's very happy to be around other people, obviously doesn't dislike bets because that's where you go to give blood. And going to the Hero Dog Award, I mean, just just totally amazing. I mean, I was taken off my feet when somebody said you'd been put forward, and then to get into the final, well, it was just unbelievable.

Steve Taylor 4:17

So when uh Shahwad isn't taking in the lights and uh the attention at the Hero Dog Awards, how is it pet-wise? Uh it's uh uh classic of the breed.

Sue Mitchell 4:27

Yes, I mean, um most Gordon setters are very easy to live with. They're quite high-energy dogs, they do require their exercise, obviously, when they're past puppyhood. I mean, I have four. I've got uh Shawood's son here, and I've got his grandson as well. So they range in ages from twelve and a half right down to thirteen months. They're walks of their life, they just adore being outside in the countryside.

Steve Taylor 4:51

They are a breed that are known for being very, very good companions as well, aren't they?

Sue Mitchell 4:56

Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, you know, they let me know if somebody comes to the house, but once they're in the house, it's like, you know, come in, we're very friendly, they get on with everybody, really.

Steve Taylor 5:06

And I do wonder, Sue, a lot of people say, possibly quite rightly, that dogs have a sixth sense about so many things. And and what what Shawood has done and having to do the vets and having to give blood and all the rest of the bits that go around, it can can be a bit daunting, can't it? Do you think he knows that there is something special going on?

Sue Mitchell 5:27

Well, I think probably in his own mind, he just obviously likes the attention, he loves the treats that he's given, which is you know paramount when they actually give uh blood, and he just likes being the centre of attention. He's a very laid-back dog. I mean, when he was donating, he'd lay on the table and snore. I mean, he just went to sleep and that was it.

Steve Taylor 5:48

So that's very funny. So uh Shawood becomes a centre of attention, which uh obviously, by definition, means that you get drawn into being the centre of attention, Sue, don't you? Because you were on that uh on that carpet in the big ring being interviewed. What was you know? I mean, did you look forward to that as well? Did you you enjoy that part of it?

Sue Mitchell 6:05

Um, I have to say I did, um, because I'm extremely proud of Sharwood and all my other dogs because they are all blood donors. But I was particularly proud that Sharwood had got as far as this in the final, and I knew that he would be okay in the ring. I knew he wasn't going to be phased by the bright lights and the clapping and and all that goes with being in the main arena at Crufts.

Steve Taylor 6:27

Absolutely.

Sue Mitchell 6:28

And he never let me down.

Steve Taylor 6:30

There's lots of information on the Crufts website about the hero dog awards. That's crufts.org.uk. And the finalists will be revealed in early 2027 ahead of the grand finale at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham, which runs from the 4th to the 7th of March. So lovely to catch up with you again. Congratulations again to you uh and uh to Sharwood, and I'm sure you'll be keeping a keen eye on this year's Hero Dog Awards.

Sue Mitchell 6:56

I certainly will. Wish everybody good wishes at us get into the final.