This year’s Most Likeable Dog is a blue-eyed mongrel

PES SYMPAT’AK / The Most Likeable Dog, an association whose missions is to improve the connection between people and animals, as well as to provide information for breeding pets – hosts the annual “Dog Day”, an event which revolves around dogs, their breeding, training, health, and psychology, and which culminates in a competition to choose “the most likeable dog”.

Already in its 7th year, the event has become important for dog lovers, breeders and fans, drawing also families with children.

Unlike shows dedicated to pure-bred dogs, the “Dog Day” competition, which took place on June 23 in the Horáreň / Gamekeeper’s Lodge in Bratislava’s Horský park, seeks to award the dog who appeals the most to the audience. The event also gives dog owners the chance to meet, exchange experiences, and seek advice from veterinarians, professional dog handlers, and dog psychologist Rudolf Desenský.

Contestants needed to demonstrate that their dogs were well trained, but also had to elicit interest in their dogs through heartfelt stories illustrating what their dogs mean to the owners and their families. Competing dogs were divided into five categories: the child and the dog; Puppy; Junior; Open Class; and Veteran. An Absolute Winner was then selected from the finalists. This year’s Most Likeable Dog award went to a blue-eyed Husky mongrel that had won the Puppy category.

The tastes of those in attendance can be unpredictable. However, it was noteworthy that two out of three winners in the Open Class were handicapped –a three-legged female from Bratislava, and the winner, a wheel-legged cross-breed from an animal shelter in Orechová Potôň.