A quick-thinking pooch saved her owner's life by performing the doggy equivalent of the Heimlich maneuver.

Jenny Deakin was watching TV at home in Brentford when a snack became stuck in her throat.

Unable to breathe or call for help, she was convinced she was a goner - until her pet Lily-Rose came to the rescue.

"The next thing I remember I was flat on the floor and I turned round and saw Lily-Rose standing on the sofa," said the 30-year-old, who works at Chiswick library.

"She jumped on me and landed just above my stomach, causing me to cough violently and clear my throat.

"I don't know whether she knew what she was doing or just wanted to be near me because she could see I was distressed, but either way she saved my life and I'm eternally grateful to her."

Lily-Rose is believed to have been rescued from a puppy farm

The five-year-old papillon-cross has now been shortlisted for Dogs Monthly's Highlife Best Friends Trophy - a prestigious national award - in recognition of her life-saving actions that night in January 2015.

People have until January 31 to vote for Lily-Rose who is up against 12 other dogs for the honour, which comes with a year's supply of dog food.

Should she triumph, it would not be the first taste of glory for Lily-Rose, who is believed to have been rescued from a puppy farm.

In 2014, she won a place on Superstar Dogs , a TV talent show for canine companions, and later that year earned a spot on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

The latter of those small screen appearances came after she won an Animal Hero award in the competition Superdogs Live.

She earned that title for helping Jenny transform herself a virtual recluse, still scarred by school yard bullying, to a confident, outgoing woman with a close-knit group of friends.

Jenny Deakin says she doesn't know whether Lily-Rose's life-saving actions were deliberate

"Lily-Rose has helped me so much since I got her when she was four-and-a-half months old. She really boosted my confidence and made me go out and socialise," said Jenny.

"I've now got a good group of friends who all met through our dogs, and we've set up a cross-breed obedience team to show they're just as capable as thoroughbreds."

* To vote for Lily-Rose to win the Highlife Trophy, email competition@dogsmonthly.co.uk, with the subject 'Highlife Best Friends Trophy' and 'Vote Lily-Rose' in the body text.

Alternatively, you can send a post card with her name on it to Highlife Trophy, Dogs Monthly, 62 High Street, Chobham GUY 8AA.