ARPH Dog of the Year 2026

 

Deadline to enter is Friday, Apr 25, 2025

 

Attention all ARPH dog owners!!

**Who?  Any official ARPH program dog can be nominated.  This includes any dog alive on January 1, 2025 that has since crossed the rainbow bridge.  It does not matter when the dog was adopted.  Also, applicants from previous years can apply again.  The ARPH Dog of the Year contest is about your dog and their story. 

 

Here is an acrostic to give you an idea of what we are seeking.

 

A=Ambassador of the breed:  personifies what our breed stands for:  intelligence, trainability, loyalty and enthusiasm

 

R=Resilience to adversity: despite the obstacles of a difficult start in life is still a loving, trusting individual.

 

P=Personality to boot:  touches the heart, makes a difference in someone’s life.

 

H=Humor is always a part of an Aussie’s life!  They give good cheer and enjoyment to their forever home. 

 

**How to enter?  Send a good quality JPEG photo.  Minimum resolution for digital submission is 2300 x 1725 pixels or 200 dpi at 9.0 by 11.5 inches.   You can check your photo resolution in the photo file property detail tab.  Fill out the attached form with your dog’s story (limit 500 words)  and email to Lou Ann Bedwell at:  [email protected]. NOTE THIS IS AN MSN ADDRESS! Hard copy photos are acceptable, but digital electronic preferred.  If sending a hard copy photo please include your name, contact information and the name of the dog.  We cannot guarantee that photos will be returned. 

 

Lou Ann’s address:

ARPH DOY

c/o Lou Ann Bedwell

212 LCR 759

Groesbeck, TX 76642

 

Entries will be voted on by ARPH volunteers participating as judges in a DOY Selection Committee.  The winning dog’s owner will receive a special award. The winning dog’s picture and story will be featured in the ARPH 2026 calendar.  Pictures of all entered dogs will also appear in the calendar.   There will be second and third places and runner up prizes for all.  All DOY participants’ stories will be in The Aussie Times! 

 

Please send the form below as a WORD document.  Please send the photo as a separate JPG image that may be attached to the same e-mail.

 

**Deadline?  The sooner the better but no later than April 25, 2025. 

 

**Fee?  None

 

Your entry will be acknowledged within 24 hours of receipt by the [email protected] e-mail address.  If you do not receive that acknowledgement, your entry has not been received. Please resend it.

 

**Winner Announcement:  DOY winner and runners up will be announced in late May 2025.

 

Entry for ARPH Dog of the Year which celebrates the life of your ARPH dog is not part of the calendar photo contest.  That contest will start in May 2025 and will have a separate announcement.

 

 

ARPH Dog of the Year Submission

 

Dog's Name: 

 

ARPH #: 

 

Owner's Name:  

 

Email Address: 

 

Mailing Address: 

 

Year Adopted: 

 

Name of Foster: 

 

ARPH Representative: 

 

Narrative: (Tell your dog’s story and why he/she is a candidate for Dog of the Year.  In your own words tell us how your dog is an Ambassador and about his/her Resiliency, Personality and Humor.  Please limit narratives to 500 words.