Thank you to everyone who voted in the 5th Annual Lake Merritt Dog Contest.


Winners will be announced May 31.  

Join us in person for the Trophy Pickup + Awards Celebration by Lake Merritt!
Sunday, May 31, 2026 
12–2 PM 
Fairyland Hill, near the Children’s Fairyland sign 
Leashes required

Every attending award recipient will receive a printed certificate. Trophies will be available first come, first served while supplies last, so come early if your dog is hoping to take home some hardware.

RSVP to the Awards Ceremony

Founded in 2022 as the Vernon Street Dog Contest, The Lake Merritt Dog Contest is now celebrating its 5th year of honoring Oakland’s greatest dogs. What started as a neighborhood contest has grown into a much bigger celebration of canine charm, style, personality, and community spirit. Today, dogs from around Lake Merritt and beyond come together for one important reason: to compete for the title of Best Dog.

Of course, at the Lake Merritt Dog Contest, every dog brings something worth celebrating. Some dogs are silly. Some are stylish. Some have the perfect smile, the fluffiest face, or the kind of presence that stops people in their tracks. That’s why the contest features a wide range of awards, recognizing everything from reliability and charisma to fashion sense and pure star power.

Some of last year’s winners included Beanie (Best Dressed), Lisa (Best Personality), Juno (Most Artistic), Shelby (Classiest Canine), Margot (Sweetest Mama), and Gordo, winner of the top title: Best Dog.

Now in its 5th year, The Lake Merritt Dog Contest continues to celebrate all kinds of dogs and all the joy they bring. Big or small, polished or chaotic, local celebrity or underdog, every contestant helps make this event what it is: a one-of-a-kind tribute to dogs, their people, and the community that loves them.