Here are the winning entries from Mac's Spring 2002 Dog Poetry Contest! The theme of this contest was "Dog Names," a playful tribute to all the silly monikers and nicknames our dogs earn throughout their lives with us. We hope you enjoy these poems as much as we did!

First Place: "Sir Barks-A-Lot"
by Cathy Marthers

Second Place: "My Name"
by Nicole Larson

Third Place: "Snowball's vanity"
by Rebecca Lautenbacker

I bark at air, I bark at dark,
I bark at sounds, I bark to bark,
A car on the street, a knock at the door
Gives me a reason to bark even more.

I like to be see and I love to be heard.
I run in the yard and I bark at the birds.
My real name is Jake, not Rover or Spot
So wy do they call me Sir Barks-A-Lot?

Copyright © 2002 by Cathy Marthers.

i have very many names you see
like bubble butt mommy's boy and sweetpea
there's rascal and romper and baby boy
charmer lover and bundle of joy
how i get them i have no clue
i do funny tricks and out pops something new
i know when they say these names they're talking to me
because i know my name is spencer and
i know they love me.

Copyright © 2002 by Nicole Larson.

Oh! Sweet little puppy!
Ears flopping and white.
Sweet little black eyes,
Never fail to delight.

Each morning he'd bound,
On the bed 'til I rose.
But the first thing I'd see
Was his big, wet, black nose.

"Big Nose!" I would tease him,
He growled back, so tense.
"Big nose," I would laugh,
Then he'd bark, in defense.

Oh, my sweet little westie,
How his vanity shows.
You can tug on his tail,
But don't call him, "Big nose!"

Copyright © 2002 by Rebecca Lautenbacher.