Treat in store as Dotsy makes finals of Nose of Tralee

A DIMINUTIVE doggy from Carlow town is making waves across Ireland after securing a spot as one of 32 finalists in the country’s largest pet competition, the Nose of Tralee.

Dotsy, a fluffy Maltipom, with what her owner Denise Ryan describes as a “huge personality”, has beaten fellow Carlow contenders to represent the county at the 12th annual competition run by Pet Sitters Ireland. The diminutive dog now has her sights set on the ultimate prize when the final public vote takes place later this month.

“I was beyond excited when I found our Dotsy had become a finalist in the Nose of Tralee. She is a big part of my life and I was thrilled she had gotten through to the final,” Denise told The Nationalist.

Dotsy, who has been part of the Ryan household for just under ten years, is as clever as she is cute: “She knows lots of tricks in English and in Irish and is only willing to demonstrate them when treats are involved,” said Denise.

“If you drop the word ‘treat’ into any sentence in any part of the house, she will come running,” she added.

She’s apparently also mastered the art of the curious head tilt and has developed what can only be described as an uncanny ability to win over strangers with a single tail wag. Her owner credits her with “turning strangers into friends” and possessing “star quality that the Nose of Tralee title was made for”.

When Dotsy isn’t busy being adorable, she loves attending daycare at Happy Campers Carlow, where she meets all her friends.

The competition, which welcomes all types of pets, from dogs and cats to horses and hamsters, has grown significantly since its inception. This year’s contest ran from 26 May to 15 June for entries, followed by public voting and a judging process that considered everything from photo quality to the pet’s written description.

Dotsy’s owners clearly know their audience, describing their four-legged finalist as ‘silly, sweet and a little bit sassy’, traits that seem tailormade for pet competition success. Densie said that every time she ‘zooms by with that cheeky grin, she reminds us that life is meant to be lived with joy and maybe a few extra treats’.

The winner of the 2025 Nose of Tralee will be announced on 19 August and will receive a prize package worth hundreds of euros, including a €250 pet sitting voucher, professional photo shoot and enough pet accessories to keep any animal feeling pampered for months.

For now, Dotsy continues her campaign from Carlow, no doubt practicing her head tilts as she prepares for the final stretch of competition. Win or lose, she’s already proven that good things definitely come in small, fluffy packages.