Channel Island Dog of the Year eyes Crufts glory

Paige Le Moignan said she was ecstatic when Mika was crowned Channel Island Dog of the Year

The Channel Island Dog of the Year is set to go up against the best of the best at Crufts 2025.

Mika, a three-year-old Tibetan Terrier from Guernsey, claimed the hearts of islanders at the Trinity Royal Showground in Jersey on Saturday.

Her success now means she will be placed in the open bitch class at Crufts, regarded as the "world's greatest dog show" by organisers.

Mika's shared owner Chrissy Le Moignan said the category "means she's against the big girls now, so what will be will be."

'An absolute dream'

Mika has attended Crufts each year with this year's show taking place at Birmingham's NEC between 6 and 9 March.

Discussing Mika's temperament, Ms Le Moignan said: "She loves the show ring, she's an absolute dream.

"She's a monster outside the show ring but put her in the ring and she knows what to do. She's a real showman and she loves it."

Mika's title-winning performance on Saturday meant she was able to follow in the paw-steps of her half sister, who won the same title two years prior.

Discussing the win, Mika's other shared owner and vice president of Guernsey Kennel Club, Paige Le Moignan, said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic, we didn't expect it at all in any way, shape or form.

"You should never go into any competition expecting to win it but everyone is there for the same reason, everyone wants to win, and we were absolutely astounded when she won."

Mika's success means she will compete in the open bitch class at Crufts

The Channel Island Dog of the Year award is decided over the course of 10 shows throughout the year, four in Guernsey and six in Jersey.

In order to quality for the final show, a dog must win its group.

"To get an invitation for the event is huge anyway," said Ms Le Moignan.

"There was strong competition throughout, there were comments from the Jersey chairman and the judge himself that there had been really strong competition."