Lake Merritt Dog Contest - 5th Annual Results

5th Annual Results

5th Annual

Lake Merritt Dog Contest
Awards

We received 145 submissions and more than 20,000 votes this year, making this our biggest voting year ever!

Thank you to everyone who entered, voted, shared, campaigned, cheered, and helped keep this wonderfully ridiculous community tradition alive. This year brought neighborhood legends, underdogs, overachievers, tiny icons, gentle giants, and, for the first time ever, an official Best Cat.

Every dog is the best dog, but these are the official results of the 5th Annual Lake Merritt Dog Contest.

Buttercup

5th Annual Lake Merritt Dog Contest Winner

2026 Best Dog

A three-year-old Maltese-Chihuahua mix from Oakland, Buttercup is a tiny social butterfly with a massive personality. Whether she's scouting travel spots or joining her favorite bar/taproom crew, she is rarely seen without her Mama by her side. She brings a pro's focus to league nights at the bowling alley and never misses an opportunity to join the guest list for dinner. A dedicated athlete when chasing her ball, she is equally committed to a "search & destroy" mission with any stuffed animal she finds. Sweet yet a little bit savage, this cute "beasty" has a bottomless appetite for belly rubs.

Runner-up awards | 5th Annual Lake Merritt Dog Contest

Clementine

Clementine is the best lil shawty you'll ever meet! She's five, 40(ish) lbs and always ready to greet. Short and strong, curious and sweet,

Clementine will be your very best friend (for a treat)!

Ottis

Ottis is a goofy chi/pit mix who loves to play with everyone. He may be a small lowrider but he's got big dog energy. He even enjoys playing with his kitten brother. His favorite activity is eating, no food is wasted when he's around. He might actually be part cow as he can't resist walk past a patch of grass without grabbing a mouthful.

We heard the feedback: there were a lot of cats in this year’s dog contest.

The Lake Merritt Dog Contest has always welcomed cats who act like dogs, but this year we’re making it official.

We’re proud to introduce our very first Best Cat winner: Cairo.

Cairo

5th Annual Lake Merritt Dog Contest Winner

2026 Best Cat

This is Cairo Mamdani McQueen (because he's fast AF). Cairo lives with 4 cats and honestly we're not sure if he identifies as a dog anymore. Cairo is the definition of mischievous. He's a cat wrestling, speed demon that enjoys running laps at his local dog park. His favorite food is whatever he can steal off the table. He's one part menace, one part cat-dog, one part cuddle bug.

Congratulations, Cairo. 🐈🏆