{"id":64829,"date":"2023-03-09T13:05:10","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T18:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/?p=64829"},"modified":"2023-03-16T11:15:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T15:15:34","slug":"maines-top-dog-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/maines-top-dog-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine’s Top Dog 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Presented in partnership with Loyal Biscuit Co.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every dog has its day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For our second annual Maine\u2019s 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\u2019s see who came out on top of the dogpile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we did it<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To determine the Editors\u2019 Choice winner, each member of the Maine<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor’s Pick
<\/strong>Best in Show<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Argos<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Argos
<\/strong>Brittany Spaniel \/\/ Gray<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Argos was an eight-year-old Brittany who recently passed away from cancer. Maine\u2019s wilderness was the ultimate playground for him and his owner, Registered Maine Guide Christi Holmes, and they loved to fish, backpack, and hunt together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Runners-Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class Superlatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take a Hike<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Nova<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Nova
<\/strong>Cardigan Welsh Corgi \/\/ Brunswick<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corgi or hobbit? Turns out they are made of the same stuff. Nova is a rough \u2018n\u2019 tumble three-year-old cardigan Welsh corgi who lives in Brunswick. She\u2019s a carrot-crunching, ball-herding howler and a total petite sweetie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life’s a Beach<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Acadia<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Acadia
<\/strong>Golden Retriever \/\/ Brooklin<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Fetch<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Julie<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Julie
<\/strong>English Springer Spaniel \/\/ South Portland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie is as sweet as they come. She enjoys long walks on the beach and playing fetch, and she\u2019s never met a dog or person she didn\u2019t like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dressed<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Izze<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Izze
<\/strong>Bernese Mountain Dog \/\/ Bar Harbor<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Buddies<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Remy and Taj<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Remy + Taj
<\/strong>English Springer Spaniel + Border Collie \/\/ Monmouth<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Portrait<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Arlo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Arlo
<\/strong>Golden Retriever \/\/ Portland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class Clown<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Otto<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Otto
<\/strong>Great Pyrenees \/\/ Blue Hill<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Readers’ Pick
Best in Show<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Jackson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Jackson<\/strong>
English Cream Golden Retriever \/\/ Cape Elizabeth<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBad Boy\u201d 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Runners-Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Basil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dinah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Doug<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Riley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Beau<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Levon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sponsor’s Pick<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Lenny<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Lenny
<\/strong>Chihuahua-Dachsund \/\/ Camden<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t

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