Top Dog Grand Prize Winner: Crenshaw

I am extremely pleased to announce that well over 1,000 votes for Balboa Park’s Top Dog were cast this past week. Leading the pack by a sizable margin is our Grand Prize winner (drum roll, please) — Crenshaw!

His reward for being so doggone cute is an exclusive overnight Sur’uff Camp package at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, complete with surfing lessons for Crenshaw, doggie board shorts, a Surf ‘n’ Turf pet room service meal, and other Loews Loves Pets amenities and treats. Crenshaw’s family will also enjoy a family four-pack of Balboa Park Passports.

Second Place Winner: Abby

Second-place goes to the equally adorable Abby. That lucky dog will reap the benefits of a $50 gift certificate from Fetch Pet Care, which now offers group doggie adventures to Fiesta Island, Coronado Dog Beach, and Balboa Park every day.

Coming in third by a snout is the ever-so fetching Kasey. Her photogenic mug netted her family a $25 gift certificate to Terra Restaurant, whose dog-friendly patio seating is perfect for people and pooch watching in the heart of Hillcrest. 

So there you have it, Balboa Park’s Top Dogs for 2010. But of course all of our finalists and entrants are top dogs in my book! Just be sure to stay tuned to this blog for future announcements on next year’s contest. Who knows, Balboa Park’s next Top Dog may very well be you! 

Third Place Winner: Kasey

Anyone who has followed this blog should be well aware that Morley Field is not only home to one of three great dog parks in Balboa Park, but also to the Bud Kearns Memorial Swimming Pool, 25 tennis courts, an archery range, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

On a recent visit, however, I made a point of probing past the dog park and other major facilities to discover much more than meets the snout. For instance, I noticed that each time I enter the dog park’s parking lot, I pass a little gem of a garden featuring native, drought-tolerant plants of California. While I consider myself quite an aficionado of all the lush gardens around Balboa Park’s Central Mesa, I was pleasantly surprised to find this nicely landscaped hillside filled with a variety of blooming plants.

Venturing southeast of the dog park, behind the tennis courts and swimming pool, my head was spinning as I watched several cyclists, who looked as though they had just returned from the Tour de France, going round and round the Velodrome track. It didn’t take long, however, until my attention was diverted once again by balls flying around the nearby baseball fields, which drew me even deeper into Morley Field’s vast sporting facilities.

While I will leave further discussion of these and other recreational amenities to future blog posts, I would like to remind everyone that as part of Balboa Park’s expansive grounds, Morley Field is another great place to scout the location of your winning shot for my Top Dog Photo Contest.

As I eagerly paw through submissions to Balboa Park’s Top Dog Photo Contest, I wanted to offer my unique canine perspective on how you can improve your chances of winning one of three great prizes, including an exclusive overnight Sur’uff Camp package at Loews Coronado Bay Resort.

If you’ve read the contest rules, you know that we are looking for photos of your pooch somewhere in Balboa Park. While having a handsome hound is of course the best place to start, composing your shot to incorporate some of the Park’s majestic scenery is where you can get creative. But don’t get carried away. As much as we love to see spectacular photos of this beautiful park, the photo first and foremost should feature your best friend in his or her best light.

Speaking of light, make sure your picture is clear and sharp. In spite of our grey skies of late, you should still strive to create a photo that isn’t dark and murky. We want to see your dog in all his or her glorious detail, so avoid poorly lit photos taken after dusk without adequate flash or shots in heavily shaded areas of the park’s grounds.

Also make sure the photo is in focus. I know that sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how even with all the advanced technology built into today’s cameras, a shaky trigger finger or poorly adjusted lens or exposure setting can ruin an otherwise fabulous shot!

While some photographic faux paws can certainly be touched up in post-production using photo-editing software, here again, please do not get carried away. The photo should appear as natural as possible as this isn’t an art photo contest. For detailed information on permissible enhancements, be sure to read the fine print of the contest rules. I know that might sound boring, but urging you to read the rules is probably the best tip I can offer!

Now just because I’ve been providing a dog’s-eye view of my favorite park for the past two years in no way means I consider myself Balboa Park’s top dog. There are just too many other great looking hounds gracing these grounds for me to claim that prize!

So to settle the matter once and for all, my good friends at Balboa Park Central are sponsoring Balboa Park’s Top Dog Photo Contest. The rules are simple: just take a photo of your favorite pooch somewhere in Balboa Park and email it to balboaparktopdog@gmail.com between August 2 and August 20, 2010, along with your name, phone, number, and email address.

A panel of judges from Balboa Park Central, including yours truly, will select five of the best ones to post on www.balboapark.org from August 24 to September 1, so everyone will have a chance to vote their choice for Balboa Park’s Top Dog.

One grand prize winner and their family will receive an exclusive overnight Su’ruff Camp package from Loews Coronado Bay Resort (including surfing lessons for one dog and other treats) and a family four-pack of Balboa Park Passports. One first runner up will receive a $50 gift certificate to Fetch Pet Care, and one second runner up will receive a $25 gift certificate to Terra Restaurant in Hillcrest.

As with any contest with great prizes, it’s always a good idea to read the complete contest rules (a.k.a. fine print) to ensure you’ll be putting your best paw forward when you submit your photo.