NAWT Rescue Dog Penny to Compete at Crufts 2026

We’re absolutely thrilled to share some 'pawsome' news from our National Animal Welfare Trust family… one of our former residents from NAWT Berkshire Centre is heading to Crufts 2026!

Kelly, who adopted Penny three years ago, has been in touch to tell us all about Penny’s incredible journey from rescue to the green carpet and we’re so grateful to her for taking the time to share their story with us.

From Snoopy to Super Star – Penny’s Rescue Journey

Penny (formerly known as Snoopy) came into Kelly’s life around six weeks after she had heartbreakingly lost her Staffy x Lurcher, Poppy. It was a friend who first spotted Penny arriving at our Berkshire centre, and something just clicked.

After meeting Penny, and once Kelly’s other dog Pippin had given her the seal of approval, Kelly knew she’d found the perfect addition to her family. From day one, Penny and Pippin have been the very best of friends.

As Kelly’s first rescue dog, Penny marked the start of a brand-new chapter. Not knowing quite what to expect, Kelly began working with Penny through the Kennel Club Good Citizen training scheme, which provided a fantastic foundation in those early days. Once Penny was old enough, they ventured into agility training not only to keep her busy, but as a way to build teamwork, trust and, most importantly, to have fun together.

Kelly describes Penny as a “very goofy little princess” who never fails to make her laugh. Most touchingly of all, Kelly says Penny is the dog who taught her that it’s okay to love again after loss, something we know so many rescue adopters will understand.

Taking on Crufts – The Rescue Dog Agility Display

Now, three years on, Penny will be taking part in the Rescue Dog Agility Display at Crufts 2026 showcasing exactly what rescue dogs can achieve with love, dedication and the right support.

We couldn’t be prouder to see one of our rescue dogs representing second chances on such a prestigious stage.

Training Like a Champion

Penny has been in dedicated training for around 18 months with Jillian Sawyer at Dog House Training. She attends weekly sessions, alongside venue hires on AstroTurf to help her get used to a similar surface to Crufts’ famous green carpet.

To ensure she’s in peak physical condition, Penny also attends hydrotherapy sessions at Aquatic Canine Therapy. Originally monthly, these have increased to weekly sessions since mid-January, alternating between pool and treadmill work to build strength and fitness.

Of course, no agility journey is without its challenges! Penny had a small setback during preparation when she injured herself after deciding that zoomies were far more exciting than agility and ran into a tunnel sandbag. This meant missing some training sessions, but thanks to her incredible physio and hydrotherapy team, she’s back to full fitness and ready to shine.

And if we’re lucky, she may even treat the Crufts audience to a display of her signature zoomies skills!

When Can You See Penny?

Penny will be appearing in the Rescue Dog Agility Display on:

- Sunday 8th March 2026
- Between 9:40am and 10:10am

If you’re heading to Crufts, please do cheer her on she’ll be showing the world just what rescue dogs can do.

We’d also like to say a huge thank you to Kelly for taking the time to share Penny’s journey with us. Stories like this mean so much, not only to our team, but to supporters and potential adopters who can see first-hand just how life-changing rescue can be.

As Penny and Kelly count down to the big day, we’d love our wonderful NAWT community to get behind them. Please join us in wishing them the very best of luck and showing your support whether that’s cheering from the stands, following along online, or sharing Penny’s story to celebrate rescue dogs everywhere.

Good luck, Penny - we’ll all be rooting for you!