Man's best friend helps autistic Kidderminster teen take centre stage at Crufts
A teenager and his dog will take centre stage at Crufts after being shortlisted for a major award at the show.
Bradley White, aged 17, from Kidderminster, was selected in the Young Braveheart of the Year category of the Shaun McAlpine Outstanding Young Person award.
It celebrates the hard-working, inspirational and selfless actions of young dog lovers, and Bradley is up against four other youngsters for the overall title.
The teenager lives with autism and attention deficit problems but he was able to overcome his low confidence thanks to the bond with his dog, Sidney.
With the regular training and help from Sidney, Bradley can now speak confidently to the adults in his training class and is currently doing an equestrian course at Morton Morrell College in Warwickshire.
Speaking about his nomination, Bradley said: "I'm really pleased with my nomination. I'm very surprised as I didn't expect to win the category but I'm very excited and looking forward to going to Crufts."
The Shaun McAlpine Outstanding Young Person award is the highest level of achievement for young dog lovers and has been presented for more than 25 years.
Bradley is on the shortlist with four other Young Kennel Club members aged from six to 24-years-old.
