MARIA DAVISON /KAYLEE GREER Here a couple of winners of Dog Photographer of the Year

Maria Davison’s candid picture of the cute black puppy declaring its affection had been entered for the Man’s Best Friend category in the Kennel Club’s prestigious annual competition. Not only did it come top of its section, one look at the Yzma the puppy’s delectable pose had judges giving it the top marks out of this year’s 10,000 entries from 74 countries. A delighted Maria, who lives in Portugal, today explained how she chose her submission for the world’s largest canine photography awards.

“This image was already close to my heart and it is one of the photographs I am most proud about,” said Maria who began taking photos of her dogs and other pets three years ago. “It was not only a beautiful, real and candid moment I got to capture, but also a demonstration of the strong bond between one of my closest friends and her dog, Yzma. “Winning not only the Man’s Best Friend category, but also the overall winner prize with this picture feels really good.”

MARIA DAVISON Yzma the puppy’s delectable pose had judges giving it the top marks out of the 10,000 entries

Other categories winners included American entrant Kaylee Greer’s Dogs at Play photo of Petey the soft coated wheaten terrier playing in the surf near Boston, and Mirjam Schreur’s image from the Netherlands of a young boxer for the Puppy section.

It is one of the photographs I am most proud about Maria Davison

This is the 12th year the Kennel Club has staged the competition and entries came in from as far as Canada, Russia, Brazil and New Zealand for 10 separate categories: Portrait, Man’s Best Friend, Dogs At Play, Dogs At Work, Puppy, Oldies, I Love Dogs Because, Young Pup Photographer, Assistance Dogs and Rescue Dogs. Kennel Club chief executive and one of the competition judges, Rosemary Smart, said: “The quality of the entries to the Dog Photographer of the Year competition never ceases to amaze.

KAYLEE GREER Kaylee Greer’s Dogs at Play photo of Petey won the Dog's at Play section

“This year there has been a huge number of beautifully executed and impressive photographs, making it incredibly difficult for the judges to choose just one winner for the overall prize and a single winning photographer for each category. “All of this year’s entrants beautifully captured the qualities that make dogs so very special and dear to our hearts, and we look forward to seeing more work from the winners in the future.”

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MIRJAM SCHREUR Mirjam Schreur’s image from the Netherlands of a young boxer won the Puppy section