Our Instagram Photo Contest Enters Its Final Round: Help Us Pick a Winner!

Which dog is cute enough to win? You decide!

Hey Dogsters! It's the Final Round of our Dogster Dog Show Instagram contest!

To help celebrate our Instagram account, we're holding a Dogster Dog Show. We asked our Instagram followers to submit photos of their dogs with #DogsterDogShow2013, and because we love mutts as much as we love pure breeds, we decided we're going to pick two winners -- a "purebreed" and a "muttbreed." And! Since no one knows and loves dogs better than you do, we decided that we're going to let you vote on the final winners!

Our winners will receive a limited edition summer Dogster tote bag filled with goodies -- hurray!

Voting starts today, and we'll announce our winners on Wednesday, June 5.

Here's how to vote:

There are two categories: Purebreed and Muttbreed. Scroll through the photos below and vote for your favorite dog by clicking the Vote button on the upper righthand corner of the picture.

And remember: This is all in good fun. We think all dogs are worthy of recognition, whether they're puppies, seniors, purebreds, or mutts.

If you have an Instagram account, follow us @Dogster, where we plan to hold more fun hashtag projects and campaigns.

Thanks for having fun with us, Dogsters -- now get to the voting below! 

Vote For Your #PureBreed Winner:

Vote For Your #MuttBreed Winner:

Voting is now closed and the contest is over! Congrats to our winners @alfienumeric and @noodlepudding!

Hero photo: Dog in a retro setting by Shutterstock

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Rosie’s Barkery Valentine’s Basket Winner

Rosie, or Rosie's Barkery fame

Dogsters, you sure love your dogs! We had 92 entries for the giveaway of the delectable Rosie’s Barkery Valentine’s Basket we described last week. I’m so glad I didn’t have to play judge, because there were some great comments about your favorite FAQ on Rosie’s site.

We let Random.org do the selecting for us, and the winner is Beverly Alexander, who wrote:

My dog’s favorite flavor is “anything that hits the floor”! When we are cooking or eating, I can pick a dog hair off of me and drop it, he will go after it. My husband accidentally dropped three strips of bacon he was peeling off — it disappeared before he could even bend over to get it! Needless to say no constipation problems for him for a while! I have never seen such a chowhound. It would be fun to win this wonderful basket and actually drop something good for him to snatch!

Congratulations, Beverly! We hope your dog enjoys it when you drop these treats for him to nab. I’m quite sure they won’t have the same effect as bacon!

We want to thank everyone else who entered, too. You left some terrific comments. Keep in mind that Rosie’s treats are quite affordable and very wholesome, and Jake will testify that they’re also really yummy. You might think about heading over there and ordering your furry Valentine a little something to show your affection in the form of a cookie. (Remember: Rosie’s gives a portion of every sale to nonprofit animal organizations!)

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And the Winner of the West Paw Howl-O-Ween Contest Is…

Thanks go out to everyone who entered our Halloween toy giveaway with West Paw Design. We got a ton of great comments, but our favorite was from reader Boops, who said:

My dog Pumpkin, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, will be dressed as a king. I will swag our front porch with red fabric, and roll out a red carpet on the stairs. He will sit on his faux lynx/ermine dog bed/throne at the top of the stairs and he will bestow from a gold/brass vessel candy to all the children in the land who approach him with reverence. I will not be his queen, I’m more of a court jester.

Boops, you will have to send us a photo of Mr. Pumpkin in all his glory. Our friends at West Paw will be in touch to find out where to send your goodies!

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And the Winner of the P.L.A.Y. Chill Pad Is…

Just chillin'!

Thank you, everybody who entered our contest for one of P.L.A.Y.’s comfy Chill Pads for pups. We had close to 250 entries, and the random number generator at random.org picked Dogster reader Katie L., who wrote:

“Pennie and Sophie would LOVE to chill upon a Pistachio colored, medium sized chill pad. They both love to lay upon something soft: Pennie will form a nest of stuffed animals underneath one of the Lad’s loft beds. She will gather blankets in a room and make a Pennie Nest. Sophie also loves to lay upon blankets or anything soft. I already try to keep out a variety of comfy spots for them, but this Machine Washable Chill Pad looks both stylish AND comfortable, and would look stunning for them to lay upon as they gaze out the front windows.”

Congrats, Katie! Someone from P.L.A.Y. will be in touch to find out where to send Pennie and Sophie’s new pad!

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Cute Video By Clever Dogster Flip Video Cam Winner

Last month Dogster/SAY held a contest on Facebook for a one-of a kind Dogster Flip video camera, and a Catster one, too. Even though the Flip cam company has been shuttered by Cisco Systems, the company that acquired the Flip startup, these cameras are still hot on the internet. And these two were especially sizzling, SAY’s very own Yuko Takahashi designed these custom cams. There are no others like them.

The contest winner, Jessica Trinh, made this well-edited and endearing piece about her adorable Golden, Chuppy. It stops abruptly at 57 seconds, in the middle of Colbie Caillat’s sweet song, and we want more! Jessica, when is Part 2?

We think it’s great she was so excited about the prize and got pretty savvy with it quickly, and wanted to share her video. If any of you have Flip cams hanging around collecting dust (I am speaking to myself here…), her piece might provide some inspiration to give it another whirl.

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 6/08/2011

Another excellent set of entries this week, Dogsters. Please join me in congratulating Christine on her winning quote.

Get ready for another photo coming your way tomorrow.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Photo Caption Winner for June 2, 2011

Thanks for your patience with this last contest, folks. As Maria explained there were some scheduling issues so this ended up running a week later than planned. It looks like it was worth the wait, though. Many, many excellent quotes were submitted. Please give a hearty four-pawed round of applause for Sue R’s winning quote. It’s inspired.

Another new photo and contest is coming your way tomorrow.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 5/12/2011

Well, Dogsters, there’s a first time for everything and today we have our very first double win for the contest. We had a pair of entries that were so close that it was impossible to award a prize to one without acknowledging the other. And, when you combined them they made the whole thing even funnier. I introduce our dual champs: Sparky and Kathy. Nicely done! You each get 50 Zealies.

Another photo coming your way tomorrow.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 5/4/2011

Excellent, excellent work this week, Dogsters. Everyone give Brenda a good old 21-Paw salute for her winning entry!

Great job! The zealies are yours. Another contest is on its way tomorrow just in time for Mother’s Day.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Winner of Soggy Doggy Doormat — and Special Offer!

At long last we have a winner for the Soggy Doggy doormat giveaway! (Sorry for the delay. Internet overseas was not happening in the days before coming home.) The winner, chosen via Random.org from a whopping 245 entries, is Deb Searles. Here’s what she wrote in the comment we randomly selected as the winner:

I have an akita/wolf mix -Keira- and she loves to lay on her mountains of snow and mud..we live in the woods of maine and altho it does somewhat dry “possibly” in july..most of the time we are in a clay heaven of mud when the snow melts…she has her own towel by the door to scrub her off with when she comes in after the snow or rain but the paws are definitely a challenge….would love to have a soggy door mat to help a lil bit with the paw problem..

Congratulations, Deb! I spent part of my childhood in Maine and know what it’s like this time of year! You will love your new mat.

Now for the special offer: The folks at Soggy Doggy are giving Dogsters who really want a Soggy Doggy doormat a nice deal: If you order a Soggy Doggy doormat between now and Friday evening, you’ll get free shipping (as long as you live in the continental US). Just place your order on the Soggy Doggy site, and you’ll be spared shipping charges during this period!

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 4/6/2011

Alright, folks. A big round of hoots and hollers for this week’s winner, Reba, for her fine contribution below. Reba, the Zealies are yours. And everyone gets a week off to reload their funny bone. I’ll be taking a brief, hiatus through next week but will be back then with a new photo contest. See you next Friday!

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Winner of MuttMop Toy

Hey Dogsters! We had a huge response to last week’s contest for the MuttMop toy. I’m grateful I didn’t have to  judge anything, and that we can rely on our random draw through random.org. There are a lot of dogs out there who seem even more bent on chewing things to shreds than Jake is!

The winner of the toy is Kayla, who is hoping that her dog Jasmine, an American Staffordshire terrier, will be as unable to tear it apart as Jake has been. Congratulations, Kayla, and thanks to everyone for entering.

Just a reminder: Keep the comments coming for this week’s giveaway of the Soggy Doggy Doormat! It gives “pawsome” a new meaning.

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And the Winner of the Carter Kustera Pet Portrait is…

Wow, this has definitely been the most-entered contest in Dog Blog history with 1,403 comments!

Big woofs go out to everyone who took the time to think of a sweet or witty caption for their pup, we got more than a few chuckles scrolling through the hundreds of entries! But only one person gets to take home a custom Carter Kustera pet silhouette…and the random number generator at random.org picked reader Laurie, who left the following comment:

Congrats, Laurie and Griffin! We’ll be in touch to let you know how to claim your prize.

View the original article here

Photo Caption Contest Winner for 3-10-11

It’s not often we get to be political in these caption contests but several folks made use of this particular image to do just that and one of them just also happened to be the best of the week. Congrats to Katie L for her victory and 50-Zealie prize. Stay tuned for a new contest tomorrow

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 3/3/2011

Hola, Dogsters. Another fine week on the funny-quote front. Props to Cassie for coming up with this winner, though.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

Remember to cast your vote for your favorite pet photographer!

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 3/23/11

Lots of leprechaun laughs from you this week, Dogsters. The prize for funniest goes to Lydia Rose with this winner below. Check it out!

Another one coming your way tomorrow.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Buckle-Down Collar Contest Winner

I am so embarrassed about being the only boy dog with a LOVE LOVE PINK collar that I'm just going to dig a hole and stick my head in it

Jake here. Last night we did a random drawing of the entries for our Buckle-Down collar and leash contest, and I’ll announce the lucky winner in a minute.

But first I have to say that I am very humiliated. Many, many of you said you would select a Love Love Pink collar for your dog, but as far as I can tell, every dog whose person selected that style was a GIRL dog! And many of these girls dogs aren’t just girls, they’re girly girls!

Lisa, for instance wrote, “I also think that the pink one that Jake has one would look lovely on Lady!!” (Oh great, what next, will Princess and Prissy and Missy want one too?!)

Sandy, who has boy dogs, made this comment: “After showing the designs and colors to me 5 Scottie boyos, they all said “Hey mam, no pink for us highland lads.” (Ouch.)

Megan quipped: “My frenchie girl would look fabulous in the ‘love, love, pink’ set! It has almost as much attitude and flair as she does!” (Frenchie girl? I like to attract Frenchie girls, not be Frenchie girls!)

Jenny‘s boy dog wrote, “Mama & me talked ’bout this fur a long time…She likes a love, love pink one but peeples ‘ready finks I’s a girl an I’s a boy pup.” (I feel your pain, boy, I feel your pain…)

Amanda remarked: “Omg, I love the Love Love Pink and it would be amazing on my little princess, Abby.” (I KNEW there would be a princess in here somewhere!)

Sam Zuniga rubbed it in with “Haddon, my solid white husky, looks lovely in anything! But since she is a girly girl pink is her favorite color, so it’s Love Love Pink for her!!!”

Janet Hall rubbed more salt in the wound with “My Sugar Bear would love the Love Love Pink design…She is my girly dog.”

Stacia twisted the knife with this one: ” ‘Love Love Pink’ would look just dashing on my little prissy poodle.” (I knew “prissy” could come into the equation!)

Java added a new blow to the mix: “Definitely Love Love Pink because I am a diva from paw to tail.” (Now I’m in the land of divas!)

Deborah Harrell joined her: “The Love Love Pink would be perfect for my little girl Jack Russell. She is so petite and dainty for a terrier and she would appreciate such a girlie collar.”

I could go on, but I think you get the point. I was all set to ask the nice people at Buckle-Down for a more manly collar, but then I read this comment, from RidgeB, and it healed everything: “Sadie and Oakley think Jake looks just quite handsome in that pink collar.”

So despite this collar clearly being for the girly-girl dog set, I am going to keep wearing it proudly. And every time someone says, “Oh what a pretty girl!” when they look at me, I’ll just keep thinking of the words of Sadie and Oakley.

And now, here is the winner of the Buckle-Down set!

It’s Dana, whose lucky number was randomly drawn from all the entries. And what a fitting winner, too. Looks what she wrote about her dog, Vader:

“I think Vader would look great in the Death before Dishonor set!..He is the most loyal dog i have ever met. When our daughter was knocked unconscious he stayed by her side 24 hours a day, and they are inseparable….he would do anything for her!”

Aww, that’s really sweet. He sounds like a good, good dog. Congratulations, Vader!

For the many dozens of who didn’t win, I’ve recently learned that Petco is now selling these fine collars and leashes, so you can save on shipping charges if you want to buy one. You’re all winners in my book anyway — even those of you who made those girly-girl comments.

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Photo Caption Contest Winner for 2-11-11

Pardon the pun, Dogsters, but we had more funny entries than I could shake a stick at this week. And the winner is…drum roll please…Cleve. Excellent work, my friend.  Stay tuned for another contest coming your way tomorrow.

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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Contest Results: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Winner

We had a tremendous response to our Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 giveaway. More than 150 people left great comments about photographing their dogs!

Now for the winner — chosen randomly from the entries by way of random.org: Congratulations to Shelby! Shelby wrote that “Growing up I loved taking pictures of my family dog. He was my 13th birthday present and just passed away this past July. I was so happy that I was camera obsessed because with all of those pictures I was able to make a scrapbook of all the memories. ”

Happy scrapbooking, Shelby! May this software help preserve your dog’s memory for a long, long time.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Keep your eyes peeled for a fun new contest tomorrow!

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Photo Contest Winner for January 27th, 2011

Quite a few interesting takes on this week’s photo from the Dogster crowd but it was Brenda who came up with the prize. Nicely done! Enjoy the 50 Zealies and use them well. Stand by for another contest starting tomorrow.

And on a side note, if you enjoy this contest and my photos and feel so inclined, I’ve been nominated for a third year as Best Pet Photographer in San Francisco and would love to have your vote (you don’t need to live in SF to do so)

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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