Adorable pooch Bowzer did Louth proud in Puppy of the Year final
Bowzer, an English Bulldog owned by Jasmin Kerr from Louth, represented the county at the Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final.
Louth puppy, Bowzer, has reached the Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final.
Bowzer was one of 26 county finalists at Pet Expo at the National Show Centre in Dublin on Saturday, 17th October, following a competition that attracted 1,414 entries nationwide in its 11th year.
Bozwer’s owner, Jasmin Kerr decided to enter for a bit of fun, never expecting to get this far.
Speaking about Bowzer’s personality and what inspired her to enter the competition, Jasmin said: “We entered just to have a bit of fun and share Bowzer with everyone.
“We never imagined we’d make it to the Finals, the support we’ve received along the way has been just amazing.
“We’re so proud of our little boy! Bowzer has the biggest personality packed into one squishy little face! He’s stubborn, cuddly and a little bit cheeky. One of our favourite things is his little bum wiggle when he’s excited, especially because he has no tail to wag.”
She added: “For anyone considering a puppy, my advice is: be patient, especially with things like potty training, as it takes time and there will definitely be accidents along the way.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself or your puppy. Enjoy all the little moments, even the messy ones, because they grow up so fast and you’ll miss those puppy days before you know it.”
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 puppies.
The 2026 Grand Final took place at Pet Expo at the National Show Centre, Dublin, on Saturday, 17th October.
Entries opened on 1st September, welcoming puppies from all 26 counties. Following two rounds of public voting, one finalist from each county progressed to the Grand Final, where judges selected four Provincial Winners before choosing the Overall Winner.
Bowzer competed in the North Leinster and Ulster category.
The North Leinster and Ulster title went to Summer, a Labradoodle–Bernese Mountain Dog cross from near Ballymahon, Co. Longford, while Ivy, a Dalmatian from Mayo, took the overall title.
Speaking about this year’s competition, Emily Miller, Marketing Manager at Petmania, said: “We were delighted to see communities across Ireland get behind all of our Provincial Winners, as well as the 26 county finalists who made it to the Grand Final.
“At Petmania, we’re passionate about celebrating the joy puppies bring to our lives and ensuring new owners have access to the expert advice, products and services they need to give their puppy the best possible start.”
Prizes worth €2,500 were available throughout the competition, including puppy food, grooming and Pet Expo tickets.
The Overall Winner received 12 monthly grooming visits at Petmania, a 12-month supply of food from WELLNESS CORE, a two-night Ireland’s Blue Book stay for the puppy and two of their favourite humans, a professional photoshoot and a 12-month role as a Petmania Brand Ambassador.