Winner announced in Search for Victoria’s cutest dog of 2023

After weeks of searching Victoria has spoken and chosen their favourite pup. Find out who the cutest dog in Victoria is.

Archer, cutest dog od 2023.

From Border Force reject to Victoria’s cutest dog — Archie the labrador has the competition licked.

The adorable pooch was crowned the state’s top dog from hundreds of entries and his human family couldn’t be prouder.

Cranbourne North’s Tim and Loren Parker, along with their children Keely, 10, and, Elliott 5, bought Archer into their family in 2020 when he was nine weeks old.

The family was fostering Archer through the Australian Border Force Detector Dog program, something they had been doing for many years.

But the ABF’s loss — Archie didn’t quite have the necessary attributes and has instead become a certified therapy dog — became the Parker family’s gain.

Archer, the winner of 2023 cutest dog award.

Archer, the blond labrador has won the cutest dog in Victoria Tim and Loren Parker with kids Keely, 10 and Elliott, 5 at their home in Cranbourne North. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Archer has an amazing ability to be able to provide a calming and supporting influence on everyone he encounters. He is the most gentle natures dog we have ever known. This lead me to research on having Archer trained to be a therapy dog,” Mr Parker said.

Through Therapy Animals Australia, Archer has now been certified as an accredited Therapy Dog to provide emotional support to schoolchildren and for employees at Mr Parker’s workplace.

Archer, the winner of 2023 cutest dog award.

Archer, the blond labrador has won the cutest dog in Victoria Tim and Loren Parker with kids Keely, 10 and Elliott, 5 at their home in Cranbourne North. Picture: Jason Edwards

“He loves being around people and absolutely loves going away camping with us. He had a quirky habit when he was younger of pulling large branches off the hedges in the backyard and showing us his fine work, occasionally he will still remind us of this habit,” Mr Parker said.

The said their Archer had the “kindest eyes” and were overjoyed their furry family member has been recognised as the cutest dog in the state.

Archer, cutest dog od 2023.

“Many people make the same observation that he has the kindest eyes that look into your soul, you can feel his gentleness despite his size,” Mr Parker said.

Lily from Forest Hill came in second place, with her owner Steve Bain saying she loves “posing for photos and cuddles”.

Two-year-old Lily from Forest Hill is just one of the pooches entered into the 2023 Victoria's Cutest Dog competition.

Third place went out to nine-month-old Shadow from Mildura whose owner Rebecca Hawkins said she was the “true meaning of love and devotion”.

Shadow, third place in Victoria's cutest dog competition.

Congratulations to everyone who entered.