Working Dog of the Month Contest

Give your working dog the recognition they deserve. Now accepting entries for the October 2026 Working Dog of the Month Contest.

Every working dog has a story worth sharing. Patrol dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, sport dogs, conservation dogs, and other specialized working dogs all represent training, purpose, and commitment. Some are already serving in the field. Others are preparing for the day they will be called on to work.

The Working Dog of the Month Contest gives handlers, trainers, departments, teams, kennels, organizations, and working dog owners a place to recognize the dogs behind that work.

Each month, Working Dog Magazine selects one dog for a special feature in the Working Dog Journal, the Working Dog Magazine e-newsletter. Every paid entry is also included in the official Working Dog of the Month Facebook album.

What Your $25 Entry Includes

Each paid entry includes:

Entry into the current Working Dog of the Month Contest
Inclusion in the official Working Dog of the Month Facebook album
A complimentary one-year digital subscription to Working Dog Magazine — a $29.95 value
Consideration for this month’s Working Dog of the Month feature in the Working Dog Journal

Already a subscriber? We will extend your current subscription instead. Existing print subscriptions will be extended by two issues. Existing digital subscriptions will be extended by one year.

Current Contest Dates

Entry Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time
Monthly Winner Announced: Monday, October 26, at 5:00 PM Central Time

Monthly Winner

This month’s Working Dog of the Month winner will receive:

A feature in the Working Dog Journal
Recognition on Working Dog Magazine social media
A Working Dog Magazine prize pack
Consideration for the quarterly grand prize print spotlight

Quarterly Grand Prize

Each quarter, one grand prize winner is selected from that quarter’s monthly winners.

The quarterly grand prize winner will receive:

A full-page photo spotlight in Working Dog Magazine
Additional recognition on Working Dog Magazine’s Instagram and Facebook channels
A custom Working Dog of the Month certificate

How to Enter

Entering is simple:

Submit your $25 entry fee using our secure payment link: Enter the Working Dog of the Month Contest
Email your entry to: media@workingdogmagazine.com
Include the following information in your email:
- Your name
- Mailing address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Dog’s name
- Handler, owner, department, team, kennel, or organization name
- Dog’s discipline or role
- Your best high-quality photo
- A short description of your dog’s work, training, service, background, or story

Your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address are required so we can activate your complimentary digital subscription or extend your existing subscription.

Choose a strong photo and make it count. We want to see your dog clearly and understand the work behind the image.

Entry Guidelines

Photos should be clear, high-quality, and appropriate for publication, social media, and magazine-related promotion.

By entering, you confirm that you have permission to submit the photo and that Working Dog Magazine may use the submitted image, dog information, and story details for contest promotion, social media recognition, newsletter placement, and magazine-related features.

Working Dog Magazine reviews entries based on photo quality, working dog relevance, story, professionalism, and overall fit for the magazine. The contest is judged by Working Dog Magazine and is not based on likes, shares, or public voting.