Festivals, Events, and Picture Contests for Dogs

“Stuff to Do With Your Dog”

Want to support a benefit for your local dog shelter? How about entering your pup in a dog picture contest? Or does joining a one-of-a-kind dog festival float your boat?

Then this is the page for you.

Below is our growing link library of weird and wonderful things to do with and for your dog. Dog contests, charity events, live festivals, and more!

Dive in and let us know if we missed anything. We’re always updating!

DOG BENEFITS AND EVENTS

K9s United

Let’s honor police dog Kilo’s legacy and the courage and sacrifices made by all law enforcement dogs. This year, 9K for K9s will be held on April 26, 2025, in St. Augustine, Florida. The event also features family-friendly activities, including the opportunity to meet local canine heroes.

Check out all the action, including the event info and registration at this link: K9s United 9k For K9s

2025 AKC FIT DOG Furry Scurry

The second annual AKC FIT DOG Spring Scurry is a 5K (3.1 miles) walk or run with your dog. In this non-competitive, virtual event, everyone participates at their own pace. The Scurry can be done all at one time, or in shorter sessions on multiple days. The event runs March 1 to June 1.

You’ll document your distances and times on your smartphone or other device, or you can use an AKC FIT DOG documentation form. The Spring Scurry counts toward your dog’s AKC FIT DOG title points!

To register and start scurrying, click on this link: Annual 2025 AKC FIT DOG Spring Scurry

AKC Meet the Breeds

The name kind of says it all. This dog event is meant to bring curious dog lovers face-to-face with their favorite dog breeds. You might even discover some new ones.

 You can pet the dogs, ask probing questions to breed experts, and get a deeper understanding 

 of what each dog’s needs and temperament are.

Tickets range from $10-100, but General Admission is $35. Of all the dog festivals and events here, this might be the only one that’s “no dogs allowed.”

Frankenmuth Dog Bowl

Billed as “The World’s Largest Olympic Style Festival for Dogs,” this nationally known event takes place in Frankenmuth, Michigan – hence the name.

Participants come from near and far for disc competitions, sheep herding, wiener dog races, pet parades, police K9 demos, dog-friendly cruises, and so much more. Seriously…there’s a lot more.

Enjoying the festival as a spectator is free. There are fees to participate in the events though. And pet-themed vendors are everywhere!

Dogs are, of course, welcome. But they need to be up-to-date on their vaccinations and leashed.

The New York Dog Film Festival

It may be from New York, but this dog-themed event is a touring dog film festival. So far, it’s scheduled to travel as far afield as Alaska.

The New York Dog Film Festival celebrates the bond between humans and dogs as seen through the eyes of some brilliant filmmakers.

But it’s not just about the movies. At every location where the festival travels, a local animal welfare organization will benefit from the ticket sales.

Lots of their locations sold out last year, so get your tickets early.

The Grapehounds Wine Tour

A 6-day wine-tasting event for greyhound and sighthound owners. This boozy dog festival boasts over 40 participating wineries (and breweries) from the New York Finger Lakes region.

Included in the week’s events are an ice cream social (with special treats for the dogs), a Blessing of the Hounds, and a silent auction that benefits greyhound adoption.

On the last day of this luxurious wine and dog event, a group hound walk heads out to see the Taughannock Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Northeast.

The tour is usually held in the warmer months, so be on the lookout around July.

World’s Largest Pet Walk

The World’s Largest Pet Walk is presented by Pet Partners – the nation’s largest charity for promoting animal therapy. They began running this “do your own” charity event in 2017, and it’s taken off!

It’s not like your usual walk-a-thon. Registered walkers do go out and walk. They do raise cash for the organization. But you choose where you walk and with whom.

They hope you walk with your dog, of course. You can organize a team or just go alone. You can walk in your neighborhood or hike somewhere splendid.

There’s no wrong way to do it.

The main thing is that everyone walks on the same day – usually a day in September – to honor and benefit our dog therapy assistants.

Entry is free, but walkers are asked to invite donors to sponsor their walk. All proceeds go toward Pet Partners’ therapy animal program which serves veterans, seniors, children in need, and patients.

The Anti-Cruelty Annual BARK

Hosted in Chicago, BARK is the Anti-Cruelty Society’s largest fundraising event all year. This is an incredible combo of fundraiser and dog festival.

BARK’s event starts with participating teams raising donations to fund their walk.

On the day, nearly 1200 dog lovers and their pets will set out on a 2-mile jaunt along the beautiful waterfront.

It ends at Soldier’s Field where you’re greeted by the mother of all dog festivals to celebrate your efforts. Prepare for food, music, family fun, and dog-friendly demonstrations!

DOG PHOTO CONTESTS

AKC/ Annual AKC Publications Photo Contest

The American Kennel Club has been hosting dog picture contests every year in January for almost 40 years. There’s no cost, and there are cash prizes!

Applicants can only submit 1 photo. Don’t send 2, or you’ll be disqualified. There’s also a theme to every year’s contest. This year it’s “My Dog’s Job.”

Modern Dog Photo Contest

This dog photo contest is all about the glory. That’s code for “no cash prize.”

Simply submit your dog’s picture to the contest page. If your dog picture gets the most votes that week, they get to be the Dog of the Week on the website.

From there, your dog could be selected to be featured in Modern Dog magazine! There’s no entry fee, but you have to give your email. Expect to be marketed to.

Dog Photography Awards

Among dog photo contests, this one’s the real deal. Yes, it’s an open competition, but it’s really just for professional photographers.

There’s a “nominal fee” to enter. Prizes include cash and some nice photographic equipment.

It’s also not a people’s choice award. There are 2 rounds of judging from a professional panel. Entry to all categories is open from March to August. Winners are announced in November.

Pet Connection Dog Contest

The magazine Pet Connection holds monthly dog picture contests – so you can enter over and over in one calendar year.

BUT! It’s only open to our Canadian dogs out there. And it’s only open to amateur photographers too. No pros, please.

There’s a “fun” prize every month, and the Grand Prize Winner receives treats galore from supporting vendors. There’s also a “cash prize” of unspecified amount.

But this one seems mostly about bragging rights. The yearly winner gets to be a cover dog for Pet Connection magazine!

North Coast Journal Pet Photo Contest

NCJ has a really short window for this competition. It’s a little over a week – usually around Valentine’s.

The good news is that you can enter as many times as you like. There are a ton of categories to choose from too, and there’s no cost to enter.

The winning pet in each category will win unspecified prizes. They’ll also be featured in the print and online versions of the Journal.

Bored Panda Dog Photography Awards

Most of these dog picture contests have been around for a while, but Bored Panda’s contest is new on the landscape.

Winners are selected in four different categories – Portrait and Landscape, Action, Studio, and Dogs and People. Last year’s prizes included €2000 in cash, along with some terrific photographic gear.

You don’t have to be a pro to enter, but it helps. These photos are gorgeous. They also have some fun dog photo challenges during the year.

People Magazine’s Annual World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest

From the magazine that brought you the “Sexiest Man Alive” contest, here comes “World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest.”

Only rescue pups are allowed. Submissions are usually open from June to the beginning of August.

Prizes include a custom photo shoot, a feature in People Magazine and online, a year’s supply of Pedigree dog food, and – here’s the best part – $1000 donated to the animal rescue organization of your choice!

International Pet Photographer of the Year Award

You may have gathered that this is a dog photo contest for professionals. They boast an all-star panel of judges and cash prizes.

Though prestigious, it’s been surrounded by some recent controversy when it was discovered that judges could participate. Sponsors responded that all judges were gifted two free entries as a thank-you for judging thousands of photos.

You’ll just have to decide for yourself how you feel about that. Regardless, check out the past winners page. These dog photos are stunning.

Orvis Cover Dog Photo Contest

Of the dog picture contests here, this one seems like the whole package – cash prize (gift card), dog prize ($900 in Purina Pro Plan products) and best of all you help fund canine cancer research.

There’s no purchase necessary. The dog contest runs from October to April 1, when judging begins. You do have to live in the UK or the United States, and you have to be of legal age.

Check out the branding before you submit. Dog picture contests that are linked directly to catalogs tend to choose images to line up with their marketing images.

Hey dog lovers! 🐾 Don’t miss out on the paw-ty!

Our “Stuff to Do with Your Dog” page is getting bigger and better every day.

Exciting dog picture contests. Dog festivals galore. New categories that’ll make tails wag.

Stay in the loop and be the first to know.

Drop your email here. We’ll keep the doggy adventures coming your way.

Thanks, family and friends, for sharing your favorite dog pics for this website.