It's time to vote for the Top Dog. 🐾
The weekly Dog Days of Zilker contest has wrapped, and now it's up to the community to crown the Top Dog who will grace the cover of the 2027 Dogs of Zilker Park Calendar. Each vote supports projects that protect and enhance the ecological health of Zilker Park.
A Dog of the Week, every Friday
Every Friday, July 10 – September 25, we'll crown a Dog of the Week — who will win a custom Zilker 351 bandana, a featured month in the 2027 Dogs of Zilker Park Calendar, and a professional portrait session valued at $500 plus a $300 product credit. One photo from this session will be featured in the calendar.
After 12 weeks, the community votes. The Top Dog takes the calendar cover, their choice of featured month, a gift box from Barkin' Creek, and an 8x10 mounted print of their cover photo.
Every contest entrant will receive a complimentary copy of the 2027 Dogs of Zilker Park Calendar — our thank-you for being part of the Zilker community.
Custom Zilker Park Bandana
No dog has ever looked so stylish!
Contest Rules & Guidelines
(By submitting your photo and joining our newsletter you are agreeing to these rules and regulations.)
Zilker 351 is not responsible for the behavior of any dog in Zilker Park, yours or others, on or off leash, that may cause injury or harm.
Zilker Park only. Photos must be clearly taken within Zilker Metropolitan Park. We reserve the right to disqualify entries that don't meet this requirement.
Two different photos. Your contest entry photo must still show your dog in Zilker Park. The portrait taken during your prize session — later composited onto a Zilker Park backdrop for the calendar — is separate from your original entry photo.
Real dogs, real photos. AI-generated images are not eligible. By entering, you confirm the photo is an original image taken by you.
Public accounts only. Your Instagram or Facebook account must be set to public at the time of entry so we can see and share your post.
Original photo submission. Finalists may be asked to provide the original unedited image file and/or a second photo from the same session for verification purposes.
You own it, we can share it. By entering, you grant Zilker 351, Barkin' Creek, and Kim Ortiz Portrait Studios permission to share your photo on our social media channels, website, and in the 2027 Dogs of Zilker Park Calendar with credit to you.
Portrait sessions will take place at the Kim Ortiz Portrait Studio in Lake Travis and must be scheduled before October 30, 2026. Winners will be contacted directly to schedule.
Calendar distribution. All entrants will receive a complimentary copy of the 2027 Dogs of Zilker Park Calendar, expected to ship in December 2026.
Voting. The final Top Dog vote will take place in early October via a poll through GoGo Photo Contest. Each vote costs $1, with a minimum of $5 to vote. You may vote as many times as you wish. All proceeds will go to Zilker 351 and will be used to protect the ecological health of Zilker Park.
No purchase necessary. Newsletter subscription is required for entry but is free.
Zilker 351's decisions are final. We reserve the right to disqualify any entry for any reason, including but not limited to photos that are offensive, misrepresent the location, or violate these guidelines.
This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram or Facebook.
Thank you to our sponsors
The Dog Days of Zilker Dog Photo Contest is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors. We're grateful for their support of Zilker Park and the dogs who love it.
Ready to pick the Top Dog?
The weekly contest has wrapped. Cast your vote for the dog who will grace the cover of the 2027 Dogs of Zilker Park Calendar, and support the ecological health of Zilker Park with every vote.