Epilepsy assistance dog Diesel wins award at Crufts

Diesel's owner Claire Whitehead, pictured centre, said she was "so proud" of her dog

A 13-year-old epilepsy assistance dog has been recognised with an award at Crufts.

Diesel, an Airedale terrier-Labrador cross, won the Scruffts Family Crossbreed of the Year title.

His owner, Claire Whitehead, from Barlborough, Derbyshire, says Diesel can detect when her friend is having a seizure.

The dog beat entries from hundreds of other competitors to win the coveted award.

Ms Whitehead said: "He's my everything, I go nowhere without Diesel.

"I have a tattoo of his pawprint on my wedding finger and he is my world."

Ms Whitehead said Diesel had learned to bark when her epileptic friend had a seizure.

He also brings her a blanket to protect her, she added.

'That's a superpower'

"It feels absolutely amazing to win Scruffts. I can't believe it, I'm so proud of him," she said.

"I can't say I'm proud of myself. It's all about Diesel."

TV presenter Radzi Chinyanganya, who helped to judge the competition, said: "To find out that an untrained dog has taught itself to be a medical alert dog, that's a superpower.

"It's amazing so when we heard that we knew it was something special."

The Scruffts Family Crossbreed of the Year competition is run by The Kennel Club, and recognises dogs whose parents are of two different breeds, or a mixture of several breeds.