Puppy of the MonthYoung pups
1–9 months
- 1st place$75
- 2nd place$50
- 3rd place$25
Category total $150
Loading contest status…
Every puppy deserves a moment in the spotlight.
Puppy of the Month is a free monthly photo contest for pups aged 1–18 months. Enter in a minute, rally votes from friends and family, and compete for $300 every month — $150 per age category.
- in prizes every month
- $300
- prize payouts
- 7-day
- to enter, always
- Free
How it works
From camera roll to champion in four steps
No fees, no catch — just your pup, a great photo and a little friendly competition.
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Create a free account
Sign up in under a minute. Entrants must be 18 or older.
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Upload your best shot
Add a photo plus your pup's name, breed and age. Pups compete in their own age group: 1–9 or 10–18 months.
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Rally the votes
Everyone gets 1 free vote per day, plus 5 bonus votes for every referral. Extra votes are optional.
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Win cash prizes
The top 3 pups in each category win $75, $50 and $25 — paid within 7 days.
Prizes
Real cash, every single month
$300 every month — $150 per age category (1st $75 · 2nd $50 · 3rd $25).
Older pups
10–18 months
- 1st place$75
- 2nd place$50
- 3rd place$25
Category total $150
- $3,600 in prizes a year
- Paid within 7 days
- Winner certificates + social feature
This month's entries
Meet the contenders
Vote once a day, every day, for your favorites.
Built on trust
Every prize, out in the open
See how contests are run and how every payout is recorded.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Is this contest legit?
Yes! We're a registered business and pay out every prize as promised. All winners are publicly posted and payments are processed securely through Stripe.
How much does it cost to enter?
Nothing. Entry is completely free and every account gets 1 free vote per day. Extra vote packs are optional.
How are winners chosen and prizes paid?
Winners are determined by total votes received during the contest period. At the end of each month, the top 3 puppies in each age category receive cash prizes: 1st Place ($75), 2nd Place ($50), and 3rd Place ($25). Prizes are paid within 7 days via PayPal or check.
How are votes counted?
Each vote goes straight toward your favorite pup. All voting is transparent and verified.
Who can enter?
Legal U.S. residents aged 18 or older can enter a puppy aged 1–18 months. Pups compete in two age categories, 1–9 months and 10–18 months, so they're up against pups their own age.
Can I enter more than one puppy?
You can enter one puppy per age category per month. If you have multiple puppies of different ages, you can enter them in their respective categories. Each contest runs for a full calendar month, and you can re-enter your puppy in subsequent months as they grow!
Is my puppy's photo and information safe?
Absolutely! We use enterprise-level security (SSL encryption) to protect all photos and personal information. Your data is stored securely on Cloudflare's infrastructure. We never sell or share your information with third parties. You can delete your entry at any time.
Where does the money go?
Prize payouts, platform maintenance, and charity donations to animal rescues.
Still curious? Visit the help center or contact us.
Free entry
Enter your puppy
Share your pup's best photo and compete for $150 in their age category. It's free and takes about a minute.
Create a free account to enter
You'll need an account so we can contact you if your pup wins. It takes under a minute.
Vote
Vote for your favorite pups
Every account gets 1 free vote per day. Pick a pup and cast yours.
Extra votes
Give your favorite pup a boost
Free to enter. 1 free vote per verified account per day (UTC). Paid vote packs are optional.
Your order
- Vote pack
- None selected
- Votes
- —
- Total
- —
You'll need to to buy votes.
Secure payment
- Payments are processed by Stripe.
- We never see or store your card details.
- Votes are added to your account after your payment succeeds.
Gallery
Puppy gallery
Every pup in this month's contest.
Rules
Official contest rules & prizes
Complete rules, eligibility requirements, and prize information for our monthly puppy photo contest.
Contest overview
Contest period
Monthly contests run from the 1st to the last day of each month. Voting closes at 11:59 PM UTC on the final day. (Note: All times are in UTC to ensure fairness for participants worldwide.)
Entry requirements
- Puppy must be 1-18 months old at time of entry
- Choose appropriate age category: 1-9 months OR 10-18 months
- One entry per puppy per age category per month
- Photo must be original and owned by entrant
- Entry is completely free with no purchase necessary
Eligibility
- Open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years or older
- Employees of Puppy of the Month and immediate family members are ineligible
- Valid email address required for registration
- One account per person
Prize structure
Two Age Categories: We run separate contests for Young Puppies (1-9 months) and Older Puppies (10-18 months) to ensure fair competition based on development stage. Winners are selected from each category independently.
| Place (each category) | Prize |
|---|---|
| First Place Winner | $75 Cash Prize + Winner Certificate + Social Media Feature |
| Second Place Winner | $50 Cash Prize + Certificate + Social Recognition |
| Third Place Winner | $25 Cash Prize + Certificate + Social Recognition |
Important prize information
- Total monthly prize pool: $300 ($150 per age category)
- Each age category has 3 winners (1st: $75, 2nd: $50, 3rd: $25)
- Prizes paid via PayPal or direct deposit within 7 business days
- Winners responsible for applicable taxes (1099 issued for prizes $600+)
- Prize substitution prohibited except at sponsor's discretion
Voting & winner selection
Voting system
Winners determined by total votes received during the contest period. All voting is public and transparent.
Fair play policy
- One FREE vote per user per day (resets at midnight UTC)
- Additional votes available for purchase
- Vote manipulation or fraud results in disqualification
- Automated voting systems prohibited
- Sponsor reserves right to verify voting integrity
Winner notification
Winners notified by email within 48 hours of contest end. Winners have 30 days to respond and claim prizes.
Legal requirements
FREE TO ENTER. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO REGISTER. Free Votes: Each verified account may cast 1 free vote per UTC day across the site. Paid Votes: Vote packs may be purchased and applied instantly. Winners: Determined by total votes (free + paid).
Contest sponsored by Puppy of the Month ("we", "our", or "us") operates the website puppyofthemonth.com. Void where prohibited by law.
By entering, participants agree to these official rules and grant permission to use photos for promotional purposes.
Questions about contest rules? [email protected]
About
About Puppy of the Month
A monthly online puppy photo contest with real cash prizes and a secure voting system.
We started Puppy of the Month because every good dog deserves their moment in the spotlight — and every dog parent deserves bragging rights.
What began as a simple idea among a group of dog lovers turned into a national contest celebrating pups from every corner of the U.S. Whether your best friend is a sleepy bulldog, a high-energy husky, or a rescue mutt with a million-dollar smile — they've got a chance to shine here.
We're real. We pay real prizes.
All our contests are fully transparent — every winner is publicly posted, and prizes are sent out promptly (with proof). You can vote safely knowing that payments are processed through Stripe, one of the most trusted platforms online.
Our mission
To bring a little joy to every household and raise awareness for animal rescues along the way. Each month, we spotlight one special pup and donate a portion of proceeds to pet charities nationwide.
Privacy & safety
Your puppy's safety and your privacy are our top priorities. We maintain strict data protection standards and never share your information with third parties. See our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Contest Rules and COPPA statement.
Contact
Help
Help center
Find answers to common questions about our puppy contests, voting system, and website features.
Voting
- How do I vote?
- Open the Vote page and tap the vote button on any puppy's card.
- How many votes do I get?
- Each verified account may cast 1 free vote per UTC day. You can purchase additional vote packages.
- Are votes secure?
- Yes, our voting system uses advanced security to prevent fraud and ensure fair contests.
- Can I change my vote?
- Once cast, votes cannot be changed or transferred to another puppy.
- Do votes carry over?
- Unused votes remain in your account for future contests.
Contest entry
- How do I enter my puppy?
- Create an account, then visit the "Enter" section to submit your puppy's photo and information.
- What photos work best?
- Clear, well-lit photos that show your puppy's face and personality perform best.
- Can I edit my entry?
- You can edit your puppy's information and photo until the contest deadline.
- Why was my entry rejected?
- Entries may be rejected if they don't meet our guidelines or image requirements.
- How many puppies can I enter?
- You may enter up to 3 different puppies per monthly contest.
Your account
- How do I create an account?
- Click "Sign up" in the top navigation and follow the registration steps.
- I forgot my password
- Use the "Forgot password?" link in the log-in window and we'll email you a magic sign-in link.
- How do I update my profile?
- Open your profile from the top navigation to update your information.
- Can I delete my account?
- Yes, go to Account Settings and select "Delete Account" to permanently remove your data.
- Is my information secure?
- We use industry-standard encryption to protect all user data.
Can't find what you're looking for? Contact support
Contact
Contact support
Our team is here to help with any questions or issues you may have.
Send us a message
This opens a pre-filled email to [email protected] in your email app.
Legal
Terms of Service
Last updated: October 15, 2025
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing and using the Puppy of the Month website and services, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement.
2. Contest Participation
Participation in any contest is subject to the Official Contest Rules. By entering, you agree to abide by all contest rules and decisions of the judges.
3. Eligibility Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older to participate
- Must be a legal resident of the United States
- Employees and immediate family members of Puppy of the Month are ineligible
4. User Conduct
Users agree not to engage in vote manipulation, create multiple accounts, or use automated voting systems. Violations result in immediate disqualification and account termination.
5. Privacy and Data Protection
Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.
6. Prize Claims and Tax Obligations
Winners are responsible for all applicable taxes. IRS Form 1099 will be issued for prizes valued at $600 or more. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days.
7. Limitation of Liability
Puppy of the Month ("we", "our", or "us") operates the website puppyofthemonth.com and shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from contest participation.
For questions about these terms, contact: [email protected]
Legal
Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 15, 2025
1. Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly to us, such as when you create an account, enter a contest, or contact us for support.
- Personal information (name, email address, phone number)
- Puppy photos and contest entries
- Voting data and contest participation
- Payment information for vote purchases (processed securely)
2. How We Use Your Information
- To operate our contest platform and services
- To process contest entries and determine winners
- To communicate with you about contests and winners
- To improve our services and user experience
- To comply with legal obligations
3. Information Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except:
- With your explicit consent
- To comply with legal requirements
- To protect our rights and prevent fraud
- For contest administration (e.g., prize fulfillment)
4. COPPA Compliance
Our services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Parents must verify age eligibility before contest entry.
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
6. Your Privacy Rights
You have the right to access, update, or delete your personal information. Contact us at [email protected] to exercise these rights.
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
We respect your privacy choices. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
Email a privacy request
Pet care
Pet care resources
Essential guides and tips for keeping your puppy healthy, happy, and photo-ready!
Photography tips
Tips for capturing contest-winning photos at home.
- Best lighting
- Use natural light from windows. Avoid direct sunlight and harsh shadows.
- Perfect timing
- Photograph after meals or play when your puppy is calm but alert.
- Eye level shots
- Get down to your puppy's level for engaging, eye-contact photos.
Health & wellness
Keep your puppy healthy and happy with these essential care tips.
- Vaccination schedule
- Follow your vet's vaccination schedule: 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks.
- Proper nutrition
- Feed high-quality puppy food 3-4 times daily until 6 months old.
- Exercise needs
- 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, twice daily (e.g., 20 min for 4-month puppy).
Training & development
Build a strong bond with your puppy through positive training.
- House training
- Take outside every 2-3 hours and immediately after meals, naps, and play.
- Basic commands
- Start with "sit," "stay," and "come." Use treats and positive reinforcement.
- Socialization
- Expose to different people, sounds, and experiences during 3-14 weeks period.
Safety & emergency care
Keep your puppy safe with these important safety guidelines.
- Puppy-proofing
- Remove toxic plants, secure cabinets, cover electrical outlets, remove small objects.
- Emergency contacts
- Keep vet and emergency animal hospital numbers readily available.
- Toxic foods
- Never give: chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, xylitol (sugar-free gum), or cooked bones.
Legal
COPPA compliance & child safety
Our commitment to protecting children online.
Children's Online Privacy Protection
Puppy of the Month is committed to protecting children's privacy online. Our platform complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Age Restrictions
- Contest entry requires participant to be 18 years or older
- We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13
- Parental consent required for participants 13-17 years old
- Age verification required during registration
Parental Rights
Parents have the right to:
- Review personal information collected from their child
- Request deletion of their child's information
- Refuse further collection of their child's information
- Report concerns about child safety
Reporting Concerns
If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information, please contact us immediately:
Email: [email protected]
Subject: COPPA Concern - Child Privacy Issue