Olive & Fable’s 2025 Dog of the Year
Honoring Legacy, Community, and the Dogs Who Shape Our Lives
Each year, Olive & Fable’s Dog of the Year is an invitation. An invitation to pause. To reflect. To honor the dogs who quietly shape our days, our routines, and our sense of home.
As a Kirkland pet photographer serving families throughout Kirkland, Seattle, and the greater Puget Sound area, our work goes far beyond creating beautiful images. We exist to preserve connection. To hold space for love. To create artwork that becomes part of a family’s legacy.
When we opened voting for our 2025 Dog of the Year, we expected enthusiasm. What we received instead was something much deeper.
When One Winner Wasn’t Enough
Our original plan was to announce one Dog of the Year.
But as votes came in and were counted, it became immediately clear that this year would be different. Three dogs remained neck and neck throughout the entire process, separated by only two to four votes at any given time. Each recount revealed the same truth: the community was showing up with equal devotion for multiple stories.
At that point, choosing only one felt incomplete.
So we made the decision to recognize a first, second, and third place, not because of numbers, but because of meaning. Each story deserved to be honored.
🏆 Dog of the Year 2025
Jax
Jax’s story reached people in a way that is difficult to put into words.
From the moment his images were shared, support poured in. Friends and family who knew him personally voted and shared memories. But what surprised us most was how many votes came from people who had never met him at all. Strangers who saw his portraits, read his story, and felt the depth of the bond he shared with his human took the time to show up.
That kind of response speaks volumes.
Jax had a presence that filled a room. Gentle, joyful, endlessly loyal, and proudly carrying his lamby, he moved through life with quiet confidence and devotion. Photographing him was about more than capturing a likeness. It was about honoring a relationship built over years of shared moments, routines, and trust.
Since the contest closed, Jax has recently passed, and he is deeply missed. We are profoundly honored to have been a small part of his legacy. His story now lives on through the images that captured his spirit and the love he shared so freely.
Naming Jax our Olive & Fable Dog of the Year 2025 was not just an award. It was a recognition of love, urgency, and the power of preserving what matters most.
🥈 Second Place
Marty, Sonny, Lucy, and Piper
Second place goes to a family whose impact reaches far beyond their own home.
Marty, Sonny, Lucy, and Piper are part of a pack whose humans have helped create local Schnauzer meetups, building spaces where dogs and their people can gather, connect, and feel understood. What began as simple meetups grew into a supportive community rooted in belonging.
During voting, support poured in from friends, family, the Schnauzer community, and from people all over the country. It was a powerful reminder that connection travels, and that community can ripple outward in ways we don’t always see.
Photographing this family wasn’t just about capturing four dogs in a frame. It was about documenting a sense of togetherness. The humor, the individuality of each pup, and the shared rhythm that comes from living life side by side.
As a Seattle dog photographer, moments like these remind us that photography has the power to reflect not just who we love, but how we show up for others too.
🥉 Third Place
Nimue
Nimue’s story was one of collective love.
A beloved Dogtopia client who joined us through our fundraiser with Dogtopia in support of the Dogtopia Foundation, Nimue received an outpouring of votes from friends and family — but also from Dogtopia staff and daycare members who know her through her everyday presence.
Reading the stories shared by her daycare community made it instantly clear why Nimue is so loved. She isn’t just cherished at home. She brings joy wherever she goes.
In the studio, Nimue was an absolute delight. Her beautifully groomed paws, expressive tail, soft, striking coat, and happy demeanor made her a joy to photograph. She carried herself with warmth and confidence, the kind that comes from being deeply cared for.
Her third place recognition honors not only her, but the many hands and hearts that love her daily.
Why This Matters
This contest reminded us why we do what we do.
The votes that came in weren’t casual. They were intentional. They were personal. They reflected the deep value this community places on honoring dogs as family and on preserving the bonds that shape our lives.
Even though not every dog could be named a winner, every story mattered. Every participant was clearly and deeply loved.
We are endlessly grateful to be part of this community and honored to serve as your Kirkland pet photographer and Seattle dog photographer. Thank you for trusting Olive & Fable with your dogs, your stories, and your legacy.
Because every dog has a story worth remembering.
