Mayo dalmatian Ivy crowned Petmania Puppy of the Year
Ballina’s Ivy makes history as the first puppy from Mayo and the first Dalmatian to win the national title.
Ivy, a Dalmatian from Ballina, Mayo, has been crowned Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026, emerging victorious from 1,414 entries in the competition’s 11th year.
Owned by Aoife Tompkins, Ivy claimed the coveted title after being selected from 26 county finalists at the Grand Final, held at Pet Expo at the National Show Centre in Dublin on Saturday, 17 October. Hosted by Eurovision legend and animal welfare advocate Linda Martin, the event brought together the finalists, their families and the Petmania team to celebrate the special bond between puppies and their owners.
For Aoife, Ivy’s win came as a complete surprise.
“I honestly can’t believe she won. I’m absolutely shocked. I knew she was a good dog – really smart and great at training –, but I didn’t think she’d do so well. I’m really, really happy. She’s done a fantastic job. She was treated like a celebrity before this, but my family is going wild behind the scenes now! My phone is blowing up.”
Ivy’s journey to becoming Puppy of the Year is particularly special for Aoife and her family, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives together.
“We typically get adult rescue dogs, so when we had the opportunity to have a puppy, we just had to enter her in Petmania Puppy of the Year. We always agreed that when he bought me an engagement ring, I would get us a puppy! It only took seven years.
“To us, Ivy holds a special place in our hearts because she represents the beginning of a new chapter in our lives together. We picked up Ivy the same weekend that Mayo won the All-Ireland final. While they were playing, we made a bet that if Mayo won, her second name would be Kobe! That’s how Ivy Kobe came to be!”
Aoife also encouraged other puppy owners to get involved in next year’s competition, highlighting the importance of training and enjoying the experience.
“My advice to anyone entering next year is to enjoy it. Training is important, and if your dog can work with you, you can master anything. It was such a lovely process, and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved.
“I want to thank all my friends and family for their support. They were behind us throughout every round. Thank you so much, everyone.”