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WHEN IT COMES to dogs, the real winners are those of us who get to share our lives with them.
And in the Great Irish Bark Off sponsored by Allianz, we need you, our readers, to help us pick between three wonderful doggos each month. Last edition’s worthy winner was the adorable Buster, the beagle pup.
Now three other cute doggos have the chance to win the admiration and adoration of thousands of The Journal readers.
The winner of this poll will receive a €30 voucher for Irish pet shop pets.ie, in addition to the undying love of every reader who gets the chance to behold them.
We’ve got a wonderful selection of dogs for you to choose from this month, and we certainly don’t envy you making this very important decision. We know it’s hard to choose, but give it your best shot.
Meet Belle, who’s a five-year-old Blue Whippet with a busy social calendar and – according to her family – absolutely no concept of personal space.
Belle is a former therapy dog on a dementia unit, and has spent years spreading smiles wherever she goes. When she’s not beach-combing for sticks, chasing balls or sea swimming, Belle can be found introducing herself to complete strangers. Because in her world, everyone is a friend.
We’re told that Belle is adventurous but loves to hang out on the couch. She shares her downtime with a treasured collection of teddies, the most beloved of which is called Moo Moo.
The handsome Toby is 4.5 years old, and his family tell us he’s “a super dog”.
Toby didn’t have the easiest of beginnings. He was found by his owner’s son after he was thrown out of a car at just six weeks old.
But Toby hasn’t let his difficult start hold him back. He loves to mind his pack and is happiest when the family is all home. He loves going for beach walks, especially when he gets to retrieve tennis balls thrown for him.
He also adores his rubber chicken – as you can see in the photo above – and will bring it as a thank you after he’s been fed.
Toby loves chasing bluebottles or flies – he’s knocked over chairs, a clothes horse and his bowl stand in pursuit of these winged insects.
Doris is tiny, but this 3-year-old certainly has a large personality. She’s a sausage dog with a little bit of Jack Russell, and we’re told she’s more of a toddler than a dog.
Little Doris has notions – she even likes to be fed by spoon!
A keen communicator, she tries her best to talk to her humans. She loves walks and lying out in the sunshine. She can be a little high maintenance, down to ensuring she’s wearing the right perfume (!).
Doris enjoys a trip to the local pub The Sky and The Ground and is treated like a mini celebrity there – no surprise, given she even has her own TikTok account. Her favourite food is fish, but she “goes wild” for popcorn, and is fond of sitting on her mum’s knee when she’s working.
Who’s your favourite?
It’s a tough decision – but who has your vote for October’s Great Irish Bark Off dog of the month?
To take part in next month’s poll and be in with a chance to win a prize for you and your dog, submit a picture of your doggo by emailing competitions@thejournal.ie with the subject line ‘Bark Off’. Be sure to include your dog’s name, age, photo and a description of their personality and hobbies.
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