Do you have a snap that could win Dog Photographer of the Year?

Well after a record breaking year and international acclaim last year, the Kennel Club’s Dog Photographer of the Year competition returns for 2015.

And wants you to send in your best snaps.

The annual competition attracts budding and experienced photographers as well as international coverage and is viewed by tens of thousands of people from around the world.

The competition is now open and free to enter.

Breaking all records, more than 13,000 entries from over 60 countries were entered in the Kennel Club’s Dog Photographer of the Year competition last year, making it the biggest canine photography competition in the world.

Heidi Hudson, Dog Photographer of the Year curator, said: “The Dog Photographer of the Year competition is the largest competition in the world solely dedicated to dog photography. We are looking for memorable and charismatic images from photographers who can capture those wonderful moments which reflect our contemporary experience living with dogs as best friends, family members, working partners and assistance providers.

“The competition is free to enter and we urge both professional photographers and amateurs who have a keen eye and a passion for photography, to enter. We have had numerous amateur photographers win various categories including the overall competition, some going on to make a professional career from the exposure of winning Dog Photographer of the Year.”

Steph Gibson from Australia was selected as last year’s overall winner of the competition with an image of her dog Swing working with sheep on her farm, which was the winner of the ‘Dogs at Work’ category.

Photographers are invited to send in their images in the following categories:

Portrait

Dogs at Play

Dogs at Work

Man’s Best Friend

Puppies

‘I Love Dogs Because …’ (for entrants 18 and under)

Assistance Dogs and Dog Charities

‘Oldies’ *New category for 2015*

All category winners will have their images on display at the Kennel Club in Mayfair, and will win a SmugMug account and photography course with professional dog photographer, Andy Biggar.

The Assistance Dog and Dog Charity category winner will also receive a £500 donation from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust to their chosen dog charity, and the overall winner will receive an original oil painting of their image by artist, Sara Abbott.

To officially register and enter, please visit www.dogphotographeroftheyear.org.uk. The deadline to enter is 5pm (UK time) on 13th March 2016.

https://www.facebook.com/DogPhotographeroftheYear

http://twitter.com/kclovesdogs

For more information visit www.dogphotographeroftheyear.org.uk.

About the Kennel Club:

The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.

It runs the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs and the Petlog database, which is the UK’s biggest reunification service for microchipped animals. The Kennel Club is accredited by UKAS to certify members of its Assured Breeder Scheme, which is the only scheme in the UK that monitors breeders in order to protect the welfare of puppies and breeding bitches. It also runs the UK’s largest dog training programme, the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme and licenses shows and clubs across a wide range of activities, which help dog owners to bond and enjoy life with their dogs. The Kennel Club runs the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, and the Eukanuba Discover Dogs event at ExCeL London, which is a fun family day out that educates people about how to buy responsibly and care for their dog.

The Kennel Club invests in welfare campaigns, dog training and education programmes and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports research into dog diseases and dog welfare charities, including Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations that re-home dogs throughout the UK. The Kennel Club jointly runs health screening schemes with the British Veterinary Association and through the Charitable Trust, funds the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust, which is at the forefront of pioneering research into dog health. The Kennel Club Cancer Centre at the Animal Health Trust contributes to the AHT’s well-established cancer research programme, helping to further improve dog health.