TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Canine Championship returns!

The Florida Sheriff’s Association announced on Thursday that voting is officially open for its K9 March Madness Tournament.

“As Florida gears up for the big tournament on the court, it’s time for YOU to decide who will be crowned the Top Dog in the Sunshine State,” the association says. “These aren’t just cute faces; they are heroes on four paws.”

K9 Sadie – Dixie CountyK9 Maverick – Charlotte CountyK9 Malibu – Alachua CountyK9 Recon – Citrus CountyK9 Harold – Clay CountyK9 Elsa – DeSoto CountyK9 Mako – Flagler CountyK9 Piper – Franklin CountyK9 Rigby – Escambia CountyK9 Pepperjack – Gulf CountyK9 Roy – Hillsborough CountyK9 Jester – Hernando CountyK9 Henry – Holmes CountyK9 Goose – Highlands CountyK9 Rex – Leon CountyK9 Sunny – Indian River CountyK9 Ruger – JacksonvilleK9 Remington – Lee CountyK9 Vern – Manatee CountyK9 Boyd-Boyle – Miami-Dade CountyK9 Max – Nassau CountyK9 Beau – Okaloosa CountyK9 Ricco – Okeechobee CountyK9 Tigor – Polk CountyK9 Bronx – Sarasota CountyK9 Storm – Seminole CountyK9 Ozi – Santa Rosa CountyK9 Syne – St. Lucie CountyK9 Aries – Walton CountyK9 Scout* – St. Johns County


Meet the mutts

K9 Ruger is golden in more ways than one. This boy is getting up there in years, now eight years old and approaching retirement this summer, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said. He currently specializes in finding missing people, but used to sniff out narcotics.

K9 Scout* (yes, the asterisk is part of his name) is a German Wirehaired Pointer and is trained in sniffing out narcotics. He joined the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Resource Division in 2024 and works to keep schools and students safe.


K9 Max is a young Fox Red Lab trained in firearm detection and was introduced into the Nassau County School District during the 2025 school year as a preventative security measure, the sheriff’s office said. He’s also skilled in human tracking and article search.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office says 6-year-old detention K-9 Harold plays a vital role on the team. When he’s not patrolling the human kennels, he likes to chomp on his favorite toys: a Kong or a tennis ball.


Voting officially began on Thursday. Build out your bracket and pick your favorites now!