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.
Rocko, German shepherd, U.K." />Assistance Dogs
First Place"Reassurance"
Rocko, German shepherd, U.K. Dean Mortimer/The Kennel Club
Messi, golden retriever, Brazil" />"The Magic of Reading"
Messi, golden retriever, Brazil Maria Cristina Nadalin/The Kennel Club
Delta, white Swiss shepherd, New Zealand" />"A Veteran's Best Friend"
Delta, white Swiss shepherd, New Zealand Craig Turner-Bullock/The Kennel Club
Lili, Pomeranian, Israel" />Dogs At Play
First Place"I'll Catch You"
Lili, Pomeranian, Israel Elinor Roizman/The Kennel Club
Heidi, merle Chihuahua, U.K." />"Flying Free"
Heidi, merle Chihuahua, U.K. Steffi Cousins/The Kennel Club
Daffy, Taz and Wile E. (left to right); Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers; U.S." />"Snowy Shenanigans"
Daffy, Taz and Wile E. (left to right); Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers; U.S. Sarah Beeson/The Kennel Club
(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." />Dogs At Work
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. Tracy Kidd/The Kennel Club
Tarly, English springer spaniel, U.K." />"Springer in the Mist"
Tarly, English springer spaniel, U.K. Richard Lane/The Kennel Club
Nyx, German shepherd, U.K." />"I've Got Your Back"
Nyx, German shepherd, U.K. Ian Squire/The Kennel Club
Dash, Royal, Harley, Ženka, Ryan, Ready; border collies; Hungary" />I Love Dogs Because...
First Place"One Heart, One Family"
Dash, Royal, Harley, Ženka, Ryan, Ready; border collies; Hungary Tamara Kedves/The Kennel Club
Darcy, crossbreed (cocker and poodle), U.K." />"Simply a Ball"
Darcy, crossbreed (cocker and poodle), U.K. Elise Finney/The Kennel Club
Big City Borders Lad, border collie, Netherlands" />"Hide and Seek"
Big City Borders Lad, border collie, Netherlands Kirsten van Ravenhorst/The Kennel Club
Godji, Portuguese Podengo crossbreed, Portugal" />Man's Best Friend
First Place"Dolce Far Niente on a Lovely Afternoon"
Godji, Portuguese Podengo crossbreed, Portugal Joana Matos/The Kennel Club
Kodi, age 10, yellow Lab/golden retriever mix, U.S." />"Divine Connection"
Kodi, age 10, yellow Lab/golden retriever mix, U.S. Sherilyn Vineyard/The Kennel Club
Ruby Roo, golden retriever, U.K." />"Home"
Ruby Roo, golden retriever, U.K. Cheryl Murphy/The Kennel Club
Noa, Great Dane, Netherlands" />Oldies
First Place and Overall Winner"The Lady of the Mystery Forest"
Noa, Great Dane, Netherlands Monica van der Maden/The Kennel Club
Nilo, crossbreed and rescue dog, Austria" />"On a Rainy Day"
Nilo, crossbreed and rescue dog, Austria Rachele Z Cecchini/The Kennel Club
Bentley, German shorthaired pointer, U.K." />"Resting"
Bentley, German shorthaired pointer, U.K. Philip Wright/The Kennel Club
Crew, Darcie, Pagan (Glenturret); flat-coated retrievers; U.K." />Dog Portrait
First Place"Glenturret Autumn Gold"
Crew, Darcie, Pagan (Glenturret); flat-coated retrievers; U.K. Carol Durrant/The Kennel Club
Thalia, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Poland" />"Waiting Beauty"
Thalia, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Poland Katarzyna Siminiak/The Kennel Club
Hugo, Pomeranian, U.K." />"A Winter's Storm"
Hugo, Pomeranian, U.K. Michael M Sweeney/The Kennel Club
Ceylin, Italian greyhound, Germany" />Puppies
First Place"Little Ceylin"
Ceylin, Italian greyhound, Germany Klaus Dyba/The Kennel Club
Beagle mix puppies, U.S." />"Sticking Together"
Beagle mix puppies, U.S. Charlie Nunn/The Kennel Club
Snickers, crossbreed puppy photographed for Doodle Rock Rescue, U.S." />"Let's Call It Roly Poly Puppy"
Snickers, crossbreed puppy photographed for Doodle Rock Rescue, U.S. Robyn Pope/The Kennel Club
Cooper, Labrador retriever mix and rescue dog, U.S." />Rescue Dogs and Dog Charities
First Place"Found My Way Home"
Cooper, Labrador retriever mix and rescue dog, U.S. Sonya Kolb/The Kennel Club
Magda, crossbreed (Hungarian vizsla and Labrador retriever), U.S." />"Happy Girl Rescued"
Magda, crossbreed (Hungarian vizsla and Labrador retriever), U.S. Leslie Plesser/The Kennel Club
Dania, Crossbreed Portuguese Podengo, Austria" />"Over the Sea of Fog"
Dania, Crossbreed Portuguese Podengo, Austria Christina Roemmelt/The Kennel Club
Roxy, German shepherd, U.S.Photographer Mariah Mobley is 11 years old." />
Young Pup Photographer (11 years and under)
First Place"My Best Friend Roxy"
Roxy, German shepherd, U.S.
Photographer Mariah Mobley is 11 years old. Mariah Mobley/The Kennel Club
Dallas, whippet, U.K.Photographer Sienna Wemyss is 10 years old." />
"Dinner?"
Dallas, whippet, U.K.
Photographer Sienna Wemyss is 10 years old. Sienna Wemyss/The Kennel Club
Monty, German shorthaired pointer, U.K.Photographer Mariah Mobley is 11 years old." />
"Monty"
Monty, German shorthaired pointer, U.K.
Photographer Mariah Mobley is 11 years old. Maisie Mitford/The Kennel Club