Presented in partnership with Loyal Biscuit Co.

Every dog has its day

For our second annual Maine’s Top Dog contest, we asked our readers to submit iconic photos of their favorite pooches and pups from across the Pine Tree State. We received an influx of entries including huskies, heelers, and hounds (plus one confused cat) from Ogunquit to New Canada and everywhere in between. The one thing they all have in common? A love for adventuring in Maine. Let’s see who came out on top of the dogpile.

How we did it

To determine the Editors’ Choice winner, each member of the Maine magazine editorial team whittled down the list of dogs to their personal top-five picks based on photo quality, creativity, and editorial suitability. These selections were cross-referenced to establish the overall winner.

Editor’s Pick
Best in Show

Argos
Brittany Spaniel // Gray

Argos was an eight-year-old Brittany who recently passed away from cancer. Maine’s wilderness was the ultimate playground for him and his owner, Registered Maine Guide Christi Holmes, and they loved to fish, backpack, and hunt together.

Runners-Up

Class Superlatives

Take a Hike

Nova
Cardigan Welsh Corgi // Brunswick

Corgi or hobbit? Turns out they are made of the same stuff. Nova is a rough ‘n’ tumble three-year-old cardigan Welsh corgi who lives in Brunswick. She’s a carrot-crunching, ball-herding howler and a total petite sweetie.

Life’s a Beach

Acadia
Golden Retriever // Brooklin

Dia (short for Acadia) spends endless summer hours chasing the splash of rocks in Brooklin, Maine, where she races along the shore and dives wherever a stone is thrown. A dream day for Dia includes extra biscuits and the unequivocal attention of someone willing to throw rock after rock.

Best Fetch

Julie
English Springer Spaniel // South Portland

Julie is as sweet as they come. She enjoys long walks on the beach and playing fetch, and she’s never met a dog or person she didn’t like!

Best Dressed

Izze
Bernese Mountain Dog // Bar Harbor

Izze is a six-year-old Bernese mountain dog who loves cold weather more than anything. When the snow starts falling, she happily spends her days outside. She is an active hiker and spends her free time enjoying Acadia National Park.

Best Buddies

Remy + Taj
English Springer Spaniel + Border Collie // Monmouth

Remy and Taj have been buddies for 12 years. Like all friends, they take care of each other, they argue, and they make up again, but they always stay true. Every day, they teach us humans (the lesser animals) what real love looks like.

Best Portrait

Arlo
Golden Retriever // Portland

Arlo is a Canadian golden field retriever who recently moved to Maine. On the weekends, he can be seen walking around the Old Port in Portland, and you just might see him posing as an extra in bachelorette party pictures.

Class Clown

Otto
Great Pyrenees // Blue Hill

Otto joined his family two and a half years ago and is affectionately known as Otto, The Greatest of Pyrenees. He is a gentle giant and a crowd-pleaser who puts a smile on the face of everyone he meets.

Readers’ Pick
Best in Show

Jackson
English Cream Golden Retriever // Cape Elizabeth

“Bad Boy” Jackson (nicknamed with affection but a name well earned by his mischievous antics) found his forever family after being rehomed at age one. He enjoys the constant tease of squirrels in Robinson Woods, wrestling with his little sister, Nora (an Aussie), and the rare white paper napkin, much preferred over any dog treat!

Runners-Up

Sponsor’s Pick

Lenny
Chihuahua-Dachsund // Camden

Lenny is a rescued Chihuahua-Dachshund tri-pawd who moved to Maine in 2022 and is working hard to gain his Mainer status. Some of his pastimes include hiking Camden Hills State Park and scavenging at the beach.

Read More:

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  Claiming Space at the Table
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  How to Go Antiquing Like a Mainer
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  Four Young Writers to Watch in the Pine Tree State
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  Milkweed Man
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  A Stitch in Time