Is your dog a Sporting Legend or Everyday Hero, the Most Talented, Oldest or Hardest Working pooch you know?
Win pawsome prizes AND the chance to appear on our national TV show on Channel 10 from 7 September 2024
We’re searching for Australia’s Canine Sporting Legends, Everyday Heroes, Oldest, Most Talented and Hardest Working pooches.
Share the interesting stories, outstanding achievements and awards that helps your dog stand out from the pack.
Entries open 9am 22 April 2024 and close at 5pm 20 May 2024
Register your Interest from 1 April 2024
From talking with buttons to excelling at a trick’s routine, playing an instrument, to ‘singing’ to their favourite song and more, we want to find Australia’s most talented dogs that love to perform and entertain.
Enter now
From obedience trials to agility, flyball to dock jumping, sheepdog trials, sled dogs and much more, we’re searching for canine sports stars ready to impress with their athletic prowess and love of sports.
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From hardworking herders to faithful flock guardians, police dogs and four-legged heroes going to war, to canine’s helping people in need. Share your stories of those dogs with jobs that go above and beyond the call of duty.
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From wrangling snakes to saving Koalas from fire, detecting disease and seizures, to raising the alarm of trouble, there are many tales of heroic dogs that have saved lives, even at the cost of their own.
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Have you got Australia’s oldest dog? Could they even take over the World’s Oldest Dog title? One finalist will be nominated for each size category, with the oldest dog across all categories earning the crown.
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The Dog Down Under is calling on Australians to enter their dog, or a dog they know, into one or more of the five award categories in 2024, as we search for those dogs that deserve recognition for their sporting prowess, special skills or talents, those that are making a difference to, and saving people’s lives, as well as Australia’s oldest living dog.
More than just a competition, The Dog Down Under campaign culminates in a 5-part TV series hosted by Lara Shannon, airing nationally on Channel 10 from 7 September 2024.
Bear
Everyday Hero
Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they even have tails! Awarded the IFAW "Animal of the Year" Award, Bear, an Australian Koolie rescue dog, helped save over 100 koalas from the devastating NSW bushfires from June 2019 to May 2020.
Venus
Hard Working Hound
During her time as a QLD Police Dog, Venus located over 100 weapons and worked on searches for Heads of State, visiting Royalty and Presidents. In 2016 Venus received the Commissioners certificate of Merit for her outstanding contributions.
Maggie
Oldest Dog
Maggie, Australia’s 'oldest dog' died at 30 after going to sleep in her basket. The Kelpie, owned by Victoria dairy farmer Brian McLaren, was deaf and had been losing her vision, but was still walking around the dairy just days before she passed.
Darcy
Talented Pooch
When he’s not performing for the cameras on the national TV show Pooches at Play, ‘Dynamite Darcy’ loves nothing more than learning new tricks and entertaining the crowds at the many pet expos he attends with his mummy, Lara Shannon.
Indie
Sporting Legend
From Flyball to Rally O, Disc Dog to Scent Work, Indie a Kelpie X Border Collie loves nothing more than wowing the crowd with her sporting prowess and catching up with her fellow furry friends at sports events around Queensland.
Pet dogs in Australia
Fastest Dog (Greyhound) can run
A working Kelpie can run
GWR Heaviest Dog
