Apex canine in running to become Milkbone spokesdog

Apex, N.C. — An Apex toddler's best friend – a Weimaraner dog – is among the finalists in a national contest to become Milk-Bone's first spokesdog.

Jessica Best saw an ad for the contest on the back of a Milk-Bone box and immediately thought of her 2-year-old son, Hayden, and his canine playmate, 4-year-old Duncan.

"I love taking pictures of Hayden, especially Hayden with his best friend Duncan," Jessica Best said. "I saw it as an opportunity to share their special times together."

She submitted a photo of Hayden handing a Milk-Bone treat to Duncan, and the company selected it as one 100 finalists.

"I thought it really captured the two of them together, showing the patience of Duncan. He's always willing to wait for his little brother to give him that treat," Jessica Best said.

Steve Best praised Duncan's abilities to become Milk-Bone's spokesdog.

"He's a handsome dog. He's very easy to work with," he said. "Of course, he's a Weimaraner."

Duncan holds a special place in the Best family, Jessica Best said.

"He was a surprise for my husband when he came home from the Iraq War," she said. "Steve grew up with Weimaraners and always wanted one. And so we got him to, sort of, start our family. He was our first child."

"When Hayden came along, Duncan loved the opportunity for someone to share food and toys with," she said in an email.

The contest winner will be decided by a public vote on Milk-Bone's Web site. Voting continues through Nov. 18 – each visitor can vote once a day – and the winner will be announced in early January.

The owners of the winner will get a $100,000 one-year contract.

"(It) would be great for Hayden to be able to go to college wherever he wanted to go," Jessica Best said.

The runners-up will each get a digital camera. The contest celebrates Milk-Bone's 100th anniversary.