Poykee, a 13-year-old Keeshond owned by Tamworth Labour MP Sarah Edwards, was crowned Westminster Dog of the Year at an event held on Thursday in Victoria Tower Gardens, in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament.
The annual competition, organised by The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, saw MPs present their canine companions and discuss dog welfare issues with experts. Edwards said she and Poykee had prepared for the contest, adding: "It's really amazing. I was hoping that we had a chance – certainly I've been gearing Poykee up and making sure that he dazzles the judges and his personality shines through." She said the pair had been meeting people in Tamworth to promote "the fabulousness of dogs, but also how important they are as our family pets."
This year's runners-up included Mabel, a rescue dog partnered with Becky Gittins, the Labour MP for Clwyd East, who finished second, and Lucy, a Labrador belonging to Andrew Snowden, the Conservative MP for Fylde, who took third place. A separate public vote, the Sir David Amess Public Vote, was won by Jennie, a six-year-old guide dog owned by Steve Darling, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay. The public vote is named after Sir David Amess, the former Conservative MP and dog lover who was killed at a constituency surgery in 2021.
Organisers said the event offered lawmakers an opportunity to engage with specialists on a range of welfare topics, including pet-friendly housing, responsible ownership, breeding, training and socialisation. Jannine Edgar, chief executive of The Kennel Club, congratulated Poykee and Edwards, saying: "There was strong competition this year, with some truly heartwarming relationships between dogs and their owners, so they should be very proud of their achievement."
Claire Calder, head of public affairs at the Dogs Trust, said events such as the Westminster competition "are more than just fun – they're a chance to highlight the connection between people and their dogs and to promote key messages around animal welfare and responsible dog ownership. Thank you to all the MPs who took the time to celebrate their canine companions."
The Westminster Dog of the Year competition, held annually, draws MPs and their pets to Parliament to mark the bond between owners and dogs while spotlighting policy issues affecting animal welfare. The 2025 contest continued that tradition by combining light-hearted competition with conversations aimed at informing future policy and public awareness.
