These Winning Images From Dog Photographer Of The Year Are Comfort For The Soul

Damon Dahlen
Updated
<strong>First Place and Overall Winner</strong><br />"The Lady of the Mystery Forest"<br />Noa, Great Dane, Netherlands (Photo: Monica van der Maden/The Kennel Club)
First Place and Overall Winner
"The Lady of the Mystery Forest"
Noa, Great Dane, Netherlands (Photo: Monica van der Maden/The Kennel Club)

As we slog our way through the dog days of summer, the Dog Photographer of the Year awards have arrived to lift our spirits. Photographers from all over the world sent in their best images of our furry friends and the results are spectacular.

The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom has been putting on this competition since 2005. This year, it received more than 10,000 submissions from 70 countries. Yup, that’s a lot of pictures of pooches. Here are the cream of the crop.

Assistance Dogs

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"Reassurance"<br />Rocko, German shepherd, U.K.
First Place
"Reassurance"
Rocko, German shepherd, U.K.
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"The Magic of Reading"<br />Messi, golden retriever, Brazil
Second Place
"The Magic of Reading"
Messi, golden retriever, Brazil
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"A Veteran's Best Friend"<br />Delta, white Swiss shepherd, New Zealand
Third Place
"A Veteran's Best Friend"
Delta, white Swiss shepherd, New Zealand

Dogs At Play

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"I'll Catch You"<br />Lili, Pomeranian, Israel
First Place
"I'll Catch You"
Lili, Pomeranian, Israel
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Flying Free"<br />Heidi, merle Chihuahua, U.K.
Second Place
"Flying Free"
Heidi, merle Chihuahua, U.K.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Snowy Shenanigans"<br />Daffy, Taz and Wile E. (left to right); Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers; U.S.
Third Place
"Snowy Shenanigans"
Daffy, Taz and Wile E. (left to right); Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers; U.S.

Dogs At Work

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"Wayne&rsquo;s Team"<br /> (Back row) Skye, age 13, lemon working cocker. (Front row) Jenny, age 9, liver working cocker. Pippin, age 1, yellow retriever. Milly, age 4, black retriever. Bramble, age 6, lemon/white working cocker. Ember, age 3, yellow retriever. Bonnie, age 4, yellow/white working cocker. U.K.
First Place
"Wayne’s Team"
(Back row) Skye, age 13, lemon working cocker. (Front row) Jenny, age 9, liver working cocker. Pippin, age 1, yellow retriever. Milly, age 4, black retriever. Bramble, age 6, lemon/white working cocker. Ember, age 3, yellow retriever. Bonnie, age 4, yellow/white working cocker. U.K.
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Springer in the Mist"<br />Tarly, English springer spaniel, U.K.
Second Place
"Springer in the Mist"
Tarly, English springer spaniel, U.K.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"I've Got Your Back"<br />Nyx, German shepherd, U.K.
Third Place
"I've Got Your Back"
Nyx, German shepherd, U.K.

I Love Dogs Because...

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"One Heart, One Family"<br />Dash, Royal, Harley, Ženka, Ryan, Ready; border collies; Hungary
First Place
"One Heart, One Family"
Dash, Royal, Harley, Ženka, Ryan, Ready; border collies; Hungary
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Simply a Ball"<br />Darcy, crossbreed (cocker and poodle), U.K.
Second Place
"Simply a Ball"
Darcy, crossbreed (cocker and poodle), U.K.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Hide and Seek"<br />Big City Borders Lad, border collie, Netherlands
Third Place
"Hide and Seek"
Big City Borders Lad, border collie, Netherlands

Man's Best Friend

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"Dolce Far Niente on a Lovely Afternoon"<br />Godji, Portuguese Podengo crossbreed, Portugal
First Place
"Dolce Far Niente on a Lovely Afternoon"
Godji, Portuguese Podengo crossbreed, Portugal
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Divine Connection"<br />Kodi, age 10, yellow Lab/golden retriever mix, U.S.
Second Place
"Divine Connection"
Kodi, age 10, yellow Lab/golden retriever mix, U.S.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Home"<br />Ruby Roo, golden retriever, U.K.
Third Place
"Home"
Ruby Roo, golden retriever, U.K.

Oldies

<strong>First Place and Overall Winner</strong><br />"The Lady of the Mystery Forest"<br />Noa, Great Dane, Netherlands
First Place and Overall Winner
"The Lady of the Mystery Forest"
Noa, Great Dane, Netherlands
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"On a Rainy Day"<br />Nilo, crossbreed and rescue dog, Austria
Second Place
"On a Rainy Day"
Nilo, crossbreed and rescue dog, Austria
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Resting"<br />Bentley, German shorthaired pointer, U.K.
Third Place
"Resting"
Bentley, German shorthaired pointer, U.K.

Dog Portrait

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"Glenturret Autumn Gold"<br />Crew, Darcie, Pagan (Glenturret); flat-coated retrievers; U.K.
First Place
"Glenturret Autumn Gold"
Crew, Darcie, Pagan (Glenturret); flat-coated retrievers; U.K.
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Waiting Beauty"<br />Thalia, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Poland
Second Place
"Waiting Beauty"
Thalia, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Poland
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"A Winter's Storm"<br />Hugo, Pomeranian, U.K.
Third Place
"A Winter's Storm"
Hugo, Pomeranian, U.K.

Puppies

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"Little Ceylin"<br />Ceylin, Italian greyhound, Germany
First Place
"Little Ceylin"
Ceylin, Italian greyhound, Germany
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Sticking Together"<br />Beagle mix puppies, U.S.
Second Place
"Sticking Together"
Beagle mix puppies, U.S.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Let's Call It Roly Poly Puppy"<br />Snickers, crossbreed puppy photographed for Doodle Rock Rescue, U.S.
Third Place
"Let's Call It Roly Poly Puppy"
Snickers, crossbreed puppy photographed for Doodle Rock Rescue, U.S.

Rescue Dogs and Dog Charities

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"Found My Way Home"<br />Cooper, Labrador retriever mix and rescue dog, U.S.
First Place
"Found My Way Home"
Cooper, Labrador retriever mix and rescue dog, U.S.
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Happy Girl Rescued"<br />Magda, crossbreed (Hungarian vizsla and Labrador retriever), U.S.
Second Place
"Happy Girl Rescued"
Magda, crossbreed (Hungarian vizsla and Labrador retriever), U.S.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Over the Sea of Fog"<br />Dania, Crossbreed Portuguese Podengo, Austria
Third Place
"Over the Sea of Fog"
Dania, Crossbreed Portuguese Podengo, Austria

Young Pup Photographer (11 years and under)

<strong>First Place</strong><br />"My Best Friend Roxy"<br />Roxy, German shepherd, U.S.<br />Photographer Mariah Mobley is 11 years old.
First Place
"My Best Friend Roxy"
Roxy, German shepherd, U.S.
Photographer Mariah Mobley is 11 years old.
<strong>Second Place</strong><br />"Dinner?"<br />Dallas, whippet, U.K.<br />Photographer Sienna Wemyss is 10 years old.
Second Place
"Dinner?"
Dallas, whippet, U.K.
Photographer Sienna Wemyss is 10 years old.
<strong>Third Place</strong><br />"Monty"<br />Monty, German shorthaired pointer, U.K.<br />Photographer Maisie Mitford is 11 years old.
Third Place
"Monty"
Monty, German shorthaired pointer, U.K.
Photographer Maisie Mitford is 11 years old.

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