Contest Rules

1. Organizer and eligibility

Top Dog Tricks, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company, organizes this skill-based contest. Entry is free. No purchase is necessary.

Entrants must reside in the United States, be at least 18 years old, and be legally an adult in their state. A parent or guardian may enter a family dog in their own name; a minor may not be the entrant.

Each dog may have one entry per regular contest. A household may enter each of its dogs separately. Organizer showcase examples are not prize-eligible contest entries.

Organizers, judges, and their household members cannot win prizes in regular contests or the annual championship. They may contribute clearly labeled, noncompeting showcase videos.

Prize entries must show a real recording of the entrant’s own or family dog performing a trick. Another person may film the video if the entrant has permission to submit it. Stock footage and AI-generated performances are not eligible for prizes. Licensed stock showcase examples remain separate from competing entries.

2. Contest periods and how to enter

The first regular contest is November 1–December 31, 2026. Its submission deadline is December 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time (MST). Previously accepted early submissions remain in this contest. An entry must finish submitting before the deadline; starting an upload does not reserve a place.

Use the website entry form to provide your name, email, dog’s name, a description of the trick, your video, and your signature. Videos must be MP4 or MOV files no larger than 500 MB. Keep your email address current so we can contact you.

The six 2027 regular contests run January 1–February 28; March 1–April 30; May 1–June 30; July 1–August 31; September 1–October 31; and November 1–December 31. Each opens at 12:00 a.m. on its first day and closes at 11:59 p.m. on its last day, Arizona time (MST). These are two-month contests, not fixed 60-day periods.

Only submit material you own or have permission to use, including any music and appearances by other people. Dogs must be treated kindly; do not put an animal or person at risk to make an entry. Entries are reviewed before appearing publicly.

3. Judging and ties

Judges select winners using trick execution (40%), creativity (30%), and personality and entertainment (30%). Simple tricks are welcome. Professional filming or editing earns no extra points.

Audience Likes are for enjoyment only. They do not affect prizes, championship qualification, or tie-breaking. Video-preparation tools do not replace the judges’ decisions.

Ties are broken by the higher trick execution score, then the higher creativity score. If still tied, judges review the tied entries again using the same criteria and select the winner. Neither Likes nor random drawings break ties.

4. Regular-contest prizes

Each regular contest awards first place $1,000, second place $500, and third place $250, in U.S. dollars.

The top three eligible winners qualify for the annual championship. Regular-contest prize money is separate from the championship opportunity. Qualifiers keep their regular-contest winnings whether or not they win the championship.

A dog may return in a later regular contest with a new video and may win again, subject to the one-entry-per-dog-per-contest rule.

5. First annual championship and repeat qualifiers

The first annual championship includes the top-three qualifiers from the November–December 2026 contest and the six 2027 regular contests. The championship winner receives an additional $5,000. The same judging criteria and tie-breaking rules apply.

Each dog receives only one championship entry, even if it qualifies in several regular contests. A repeat qualifying win does not pass a championship place to fourth place. Repeat winners keep all their regular-contest prizes.

The dog competes with its original qualifying video, not a newly filmed replacement. If a dog qualifies more than once, its owner chooses one of that dog’s original qualifying videos by February 29, 2028. If the owner does not reply by that deadline, the dog’s earliest qualifying video will be used.

Championship judging will be completed by March 15, 2028. The potential winner will be notified by March 29, 2028. A public winner announcement follows eligibility confirmation; March 29 is not a guaranteed public announcement or payment date.

6. Winner notification and payment

Potential regular-contest winners will be notified by email within 14 days after their contest closes. The championship uses the notification schedule above.

Potential winners have 14 calendar days from notification to respond. We send a reminder before the deadline. If there is still no response, the prize is offered to the next eligible entrant in the judges’ rankings.

Prizes are paid within 30 days after the winner’s eligibility is confirmed and required paperwork is received. Applicable taxes are the winner’s responsibility. Any legally required tax information will be requested privately, not posted with the video.

7. Video ownership and permission

You retain ownership of your submitted video. You grant Top Dog Tricks, LLC nonexclusive permission to edit, display, and post the video on its website, on Facebook and Instagram, and in contest promotions without a separate licensing payment. This permission has no expiration date and continues beyond the contest.

This permission does not transfer ownership of your video. Contest prizes are unaffected. Entrant email addresses and signatures are not displayed publicly.

The Privacy page explains information handling and requests. A request to delete personal information does not automatically cancel previously granted video-use permission.

8. Questions

Contact hello@topdogtricks.com for entry, prize, qualification, or rules questions. This contest is organized by Top Dog Tricks, LLC, not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Instagram.