Todd swam 10 miles and six hours to get home

Todd swam 10 miles in the direction of his New Forest home in Hampshire after falling from his owner's yacht in July 2002.

He has reached the final 12 contenders from more than 300 dogs entered for the Golden Bonio Awards 2003.

Among the other finalists at the lunchtime ceremony at Kensington Roof Gardens, are a Metropolitan Police dog, a Customs and Excise sniffer dog and talented canines from as far afield as Staffordshire and Berkshire.

Two-year-old Todd was just one mile away from the Isle of Wight when he fell overboard, but chose to head straight for home across the busy shipping lane of the Solent and, once at shore, up the River Beaulieu.

Alongside Todd in the 12 finalists is Yarran, a guide dog from Reading, Berkshire, who safely guided his owner home even though he had been badly mauled by another dog.

With so many inspirational and touching stories judging was a near impossible task Julie Donoghue

After the attack in the town's Prospect Park in December 2002, Yarran managed to lead his owner two miles home and up several flights of stairs before passing out.

He needed 30 stitches to a bad gash in his stomach.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police dog Monty was nominated after being stabbed while tackling a robber who attacked his handler, PC Stewart Judd.

Monty's attacker, who left the police dog with life-threatening injuries, has since been convicted of two murders.

PC Stewart, who now lives with a retired Monty in Aldershot, Hampshire, said: "He really has proved himself to be a brave and dedicated partner."

Mathematical mutt

Monty faces tough competition from Chase, a Springer spaniel who has helped find drugs worth more than �30m.

Another of the finalists is seven-year-old German Shepherd Tina whose owner Eddie Shafer, 71, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, spent 18 months training her to count to ten, add and subtract and snap her jaws open and shut to give an answer.

Other contenders include Bobby, a male greyhound who took care of seven orphaned puppies, and a golden retriever who led his owner to discover he had skin cancer after his doctor had diagnosed it as eczema.

The winning dog, whose owner will win �1,000, will be chosen by a panel of judges which includes TV personality Anthea Turner, actress Miranda Richardson and TV presenter Gloria Hunniford.

Bonio spokeswoman Julie Donoghue said: "With so many inspirational and touching stories judging was a near impossible task."