The 2026 Top Dog Photo Contest is coming soon!
July 1 - 31
Leading up to our 2026 Spring Lake Water Bark and in celebration of 60+ dog-friendly Sonoma County Regional Parks, the Sonoma County Parks Foundation is hosting our second annual Top Dog Photo Contest as a fundraiser to benefit Regional Parks.
Two winning dogs – one selected by the public and one by our judges’ panel – will be “Top Dogs”!
Winning photos will be featured in the "Sonoma County's Top Dog" calendar, as well as on the Sonoma County Parks Foundation website, newsletters and social media. We welcome all photographers who are residents or visitors in Sonoma County, regardless of skill level or experience.
We will have two categories of winners. "People's Choice" winners will be selected based on popular votes through the contest website:
www.gogophotocontest.com/parksfoundationtopdog. "Judges' Choice" winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges. You can read about them at the bottom of this page, and review the judges's rubric which indicates how they will score the entries.
A 2027 “Sonoma County’s Top Dog” calendar will be awarded to Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice prize winners, and the calendar also will be available for purchase
Two winning dogs – one selected by the public and one by our judges’ panel – will be “Top Dogs”!
Winning photos will be featured in the "Sonoma County's Top Dog" calendar, as well as on the Sonoma County Parks Foundation website, newsletters and social media. We welcome all photographers who are residents or visitors in Sonoma County, regardless of skill level or experience.
We will have two categories of winners. "People's Choice" winners will be selected based on popular votes through the contest website:
www.gogophotocontest.com/parksfoundationtopdog. "Judges' Choice" winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges. You can read about them at the bottom of this page, and review the judges's rubric which indicates how they will score the entries.
A 2027 “Sonoma County’s Top Dog” calendar will be awarded to Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice prize winners, and the calendar also will be available for purchase
Thank you Photo Contest Sponsors!
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2025 Judges
Julie VaderJulie Vader was the official photographer for Spring Lake’s Water Bark event for many years and has contributed to publications like the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Sonoma Index-Tribune, Sonoma Magazine, Sunset, and Western Horseman. Based in Sonoma, she loves photographing dogs—especially since they never complain about the results!
https://www.julievader.com/ |
Ronnie RosenbachRonnie Rosenbach is primarily a self-taught photographer driven by a lifelong passion for the craft. As an active member of the Santa Rosa Photographic Society, my images have earned recognition both locally and regionally through the Northern California Council of Camera Clubs (N4C). Her work has been featured in the Press Democrat and showcased in solo and group exhibitions, including the Finley Center and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.
https://www.ronnierosenbach.com/ |
Heidi AdlerHeidi Adler is an award-winning, internationally accredited pet photographer and educator based in Sonoma County, California. Known for capturing the unique personality and emotional connection between pets and their people, her work ranges from playful action shots to soulful portraits. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Heidi also donates her time to local rescues and service dog organizations, using her photography to help animals find loving homes.
https://www.heidiadlerphotography.com/portfolio |
| top_dog_judging_criteria.pdf |
