Being good looking is no longer the only way to be recognised at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show.

For the first time, the deeds of brave canines have been recognised.

NSW Police German shepherd Ulrich has been named the inaugural recipient of the Service Dog Award at the show’s Canine Hero Awards.

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Ulrich assisted police to track down an 86-year-old man who went missing from Maitland Hospital in March 2015.

The man had been missing for three days when Ulrich dragged his handler down a ravine for about 50m, before locating the man laying at the bottom of the hill.

This Lhasa apso is a dog show pro. Photo: ABC

Handler Senior Constable David Wynne described Ulrich as “one in a million”. The Governor-General was also impressed.

“How could you go past that puppy?” Sir Peter Cosgrove asked. “Unless you are an evil-doer, then you’d run very fast.”

Another Canine Hero award went to Brook, who ran for help when his owner got her wheelchair bogged in Centennial Park in Sydney’s east.

There was stiff competition in the more traditional disciplines, with Best Dog in Show going to a Lhasa apso.

“In the past 12 months he has made 100 best in shows,” the dog’s owner Michael Camac said.

“He was top dog in New South Wales, top dog in South Australia, and top dog in Victoria last weekend.”

He will now be retired, a relief for his owner from five hours of grooming per outing.

In contrast the runner-up required little maintenance: the Chinese crested dog was nearly naked.

This Chinese crested dog won second place. Photo: ABC