Chai Bella represents Offaly at Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final

Chai Bella, a Dachshund from Rhode, has represented the county at the Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final, joining 25 fellow county finalists following a competition that attracted 1,414 entries nationwide.

Owned by Kaelyn Dudley, Chai Bella attended the Grand Final at Pet Expo at the National Show Centre in Dublin on Saturday, 17th 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 puppies.

Chai Bella holds a special place in Kaelyn’s life following the loss of her childhood pet. With her cheeky personality and a name inspired by her mother, she brings plenty of laughter to their home.

Speaking about their bond and what inspired her to enter the competition, owner Kaelyn Dudley said: “I decided to enter Chai into Petmania Puppy of the Year because I genuinely believe she deserves to be celebrated. After losing my childhood pet, having Chai in my life has been incredibly special, and the bond I have with her is something I will always treasure. We chose Chai’s name because of her wonderful mum, who was called Pumpkin. Chai’s full name is Chai Spiced Latte and her mum’s is Pumpkin Spiced Latte, and she is her mum’s twin so we wanted to keep the spirit the same. She has the biggest personality in the tiniest body and makes me laugh every single day with her cheeky little ways.”

She added: “For anyone considering a puppy, I think families should realise that you will be your puppy’s entire world. Dogs are only with us for a portion of our lives, but we are their entire life. Time and patience, I’d say, is what you need to have when getting a puppy.”

Chai Bella competed in the South Leinster category alongside Lola Sona, a Cocker Spaniel from Co. Carlow, owned by Inga Daskeviciene; Simba, a Pomeranian from Dublin, owned by Perla Medina; Bundee, a Golden Retriever from Newbridge, Co. Kildare, owned by Kate Crowley; Bella, a Cocker Spaniel from Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny, owned by Niamh O’Connell; Maverick, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi from Ballytramon, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford, owned by Charlotte Campbell; Ozzy, a Cocker Spaniel from Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow, owned by Jordan O’Riordan; and Teddy Boo, a Toy Poodle from Errill, Co. Laois, owned by Megan Fusco.

Teddy Boo was crowned South Leinster Provincial Winner, while Ivy, a Dalmatian from Ballina, Co. Mayo, owned by Aoife Tompkins, won the Connacht and overall titles.

The other 2026 Provincial Winners were:

North Leinster & Ulster: Summer, a Labradoodle–Bernese Mountain Dog cross from near Ballymahon, Co. Longford, owned by David Keenan.

Munster: Sullivan, a Golden Retriever–Cocker Spaniel cross from Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, owned by Marie Carr O’Kelly and her husband Patrick.

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.”

Now in its 11th year, Petmania Puppy of the Year attracted 1,414 entries from across 26 counties. Entries opened on 1st September. 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.

Previous Overall Winners have come from Westmeath, Laois, Dublin, Sligo, Kerry, Limerick, Carlow and Galway. This year’s Overall Winner, Ivy, is the first dog from County Mayo - and the first Dalmatian - to take the title.

Prizes worth €2,500 were available throughout the competition, including puppy food, grooming and Pet Expo tickets. The Overall Winner receives 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.

Petmania continues to champion responsible pet ownership through initiatives such as Puppy of the Year, alongside its expert advice, in-store services and ongoing support to help pets and their owners enjoy happy, healthy lives together.