Eleanor LawsonWest Midlands
Kieran Cleeves/PA Media
Poykee, owned by Tamworth MP Sarah Edwards, took home the crown at this year’s Westminster Dog of the Year
A Staffordshire MP’s dog has emerged victorious after winning the Westminster Dog of the Year competition.
The annual competition, organised by The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, took place on Thursday in Victoria Tower Gardens, in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament.
Poykee, a 13-year-old Keeshond, took the crown as the competition’s 2025 winner. He is owned by Sarah Edwards, the Labour MP for Tamworth.
Ms Edwards said: “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.”
Kieran Cleeves/PA Media
Poykee impressed the judges of this year’s competition
The Tamworth MP said the pair had been doing preparation work ahead of the competition, “making sure that he really promotes what it is to be a fabulous pet but also a creature with a really individual personality as well”.
She added: “We’ve been out and about in Tamworth talking to people and thinking about how we can promote the fabulousness of dogs, but also how important they are as our family pets.”
This year’s runners-up were rescue dog Mabel and Becky Gittins, Labour MP for Clwyd East, who won second place, and office dog Lucy, a Labrador, with Andrew Snowden, Conservative MP for Fylde, who won third place.
The competition also had a winner decided solely from the public – via the Sir David Amess Public Vote – which was six-year-old guide dog, Jennie, owned by Steve Darling, the Lib Dem MP for Torbay.
The vote is named after dog lover Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in 2021.
His own dog, French Bulldog Vivienne, won the competition in 2021.
Kieran Cleeves/PA Media
The champions of this year’s Westminster Dog of the Year competition
The competition provided an opportunity for MPs to engage with experts to discuss all aspects of dog welfare.
Topics raised included pet-friendly housing, responsible dog ownership, breeding, training and socialisation.
Jannine Edgar, chief executive of The Kennel Club, said: “Well done to Poykee, alongside Sarah Edwards MP, on being crowned Westminster Dog of the Year 2025.
“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 like this 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.”