From 1-5 p.m., the annual Cutest Puppy Contest courtesy of the Klondike Dog Derby kicked off at Back Channel Brewing Co. in Spring Park. Entries were due by 2 p.m. and puppies needed to be 12 months of age or younger as of Jan. 25 in order to be eligible. Proceeds will support the 2026 Klondike Dog Derby race. It was earlier this month that the 2025 Klondike Dog Derby was canceled due to a lack of snow, the second year in a row. In its place, included this contest, which has gone on in the past, and an all-new concert series hosted at Maynards in Excelsior across what would've been the two days of the derby, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
More than 40 puppies were in fierce competition for the title of "Cutest Puppy" in 2025 at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park. Participants could cast votes in the cutest dog's container.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
A new addition to the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025 includes a 4 p.m. puppy bowl featuring puppies from PJ's Rescue in Duluth. The participating pups, including Corn dog, Cotton Candy, Milk Shake, Peanut Roll, Footlong, Caramel Apple, Mini Donut, Snow Cone, Funnel Cake, Popcorn and Hot Dog were all looking for homes at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
More like this...
Gus, the No. 6 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, shows his impressive chops in a yawn at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Stella, the No. 10 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, poses sweetly at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Partner, No. 43 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, is mesmerized by the snow at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Roux, the No. 27 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, looks above the vast, inferior competition at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Rory, the No. 7 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, takes a walk break at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Hunter, the No. 20 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, is feeling drowsy from all of the commotion at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Harley, the No. 14 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, has unmissable brown eyes while posing at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Nova, the No. 12 in the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025, can barely sit still in hot pursuit of a treat at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
More than 40 puppies were in fierce competition for the title of "Cutest Puppy" in 2025 at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park. Participants could cast votes in the cutest dog's container.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
A new addition to the Cutest Puppy Contest for 2025 includes a 4 p.m. puppy bowl featuring puppies from PJ's Rescue in Duluth. The participating pups, including Corn dog, Cotton Candy, Milk Shake, Peanut Roll, Footlong, Caramel Apple, Mini Donut, Snow Cone, Funnel Cake, Popcorn and Hot Dog were all looking for homes at the Klondike Dog Derby event at Back Channel Brewing Jan. 25 in Spring Lake Park.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
Klondike Dog Derby merchandise was for sale with representatives from the race at the Cutest Puppy Contest event at Back Channel Brewing in Spring Lake Park on Jan. 25.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
A massive pile of snow for the dogs to nose at is also popular for young human attendees of the 2025 Cutest Puppy Contest at Back Channel Brewing in Spring Lake Park on Jan. 25.
- (Sun photo by Natalie Cierzan)
More like this...
Tags
nataliecierzan
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Post a comment as anonymous
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.