World's Ugliest Dog Contest facts for kids

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is a fun yearly event held in Petaluma, California. It's part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair, and its goal is to find the dog that judges think is the "ugliest." This contest usually happens in the fourth week of June.

The winner gets the title of "The World's Ugliest Dog." Their owner also receives a prize of $1,600, a trophy, and a free trip to New York City. Lots of people come to watch, with about 20,000 to 30,000 visitors each year. The fair even has a special Dog Lovers' Festival before the contest begins.

This contest has been around since the 1970s. In 2009, the Sonoma-Marin Fair officially protected the name World's Ugliest Dog. In 2013, the contest celebrated its 25th anniversary. A book called World's Ugliest Dogs was published to mark the occasion. It featured stories by Vicki DeArmon and photos from photographers who have covered the event.

The most recent winner was a dog named Brindle, an American Staffy from Perth. Her owner, Melissa White, was very proud!

Who Can Participate?

Dogs from all over the United States usually enter the contest. However, dogs from anywhere in the world are welcome to join!

Unlike regular dog shows that are only for purebred dogs, the World's Ugliest Dog Contest has two groups:

• Dogs with a known breed (pedigreed dogs)
• Mixed-breed dogs (mutts)

The winners from each group then compete for the overall "ugliest dog" title. Judges don't compare dogs to specific breed standards.

Dog owners must show proof from a vet that their pet is healthy. The Sonoma-Marin Fair also works with groups like the Sonoma County Humane Society. They help teach people about animals and find new homes for rescue dogs. After the contest, the fair quickly shares photos, news, and videos of the winner. You can also see the new contestants on the website before the contest.

Past Winners

The contest has been recording its winners since 1976. One early winner was Boomer, a French mastiff, in 1996.

1999–2001: Nana

Nana was a tiny three-pound chihuahua mix. She won the contest three times between 1996 and 2001. She was known for her unique sidelong walk. Nana even appeared on a band's album cover and twice on The Tonight Show. She passed away in 2001.

2002: Rascal

Rascal, a 7-pound Chinese Crested dog, won the top prize in 2002. He is owned by actor Dane Andrew. Rascal has won many other "ugly dog" contests over the years. By 2010, he had won ten such titles!

Rascal was so unique that he appeared on The Tonight Show even before he won. He has also been in four horror movies and seen on shows like The View. He was featured in magazines like People and Hello. Rascal even has his own leash line and cartoon strip. Money from these projects goes to animal charities.

Rascal is related to Chi Chi, who holds the record for winning the most World's Ugliest Dog titles. Chi Chi won 8 times, putting him in the Guinness Book of World Records.

2003–2005: Sam

Sam was a blind Chinese Crested dog. He won the title of world's ugliest dog three years in a row, from 2003 to 2005. Sam passed away in November 2005.

2006: Archie

In 2006, there was a problem with the online voting. Someone changed the votes for the leading dogs. To fix this, the fair restarted the internet voting. The official winner, Archie, was chosen by a panel of judges. Archie passed away in July 2008.

2007: Elwood

The winner in 2007 was Elwood, a Chinese Crested-chihuahua mix. He had placed second the year before. Many dogs in the contest are Chinese Crested because they often have traits like a mohawk, big eyes, and a long tongue. Elwood passed away in 2013 at age 8.

2008: Gus

A Chinese Crested dog named Gus won the 2008 contest. Eleven dogs competed that year. Gus passed away in November 2008 at 9 years old.

Rascal, the 2002 winner, also won the World's Oldest Ugly Dog Contest in 2008. This made him the only dog to win both top titles.

2009: Pabst

Pabst, a boxer mix, won in 2009. He beat Miss Ellie, a blind 16-year-old Chinese Crested Hairless, who won in the purebred category. Miss Ellie passed away in 2010 at age 17.

2010: Princess Abby

Princess Abby was a chihuahua with a unique look. She had a hunched back and her back legs were longer than her front ones. She also had one missing eye and mismatched ears. Princess Abby won the 2010 contest against 25 other dogs. She was a rescue dog.

2011: Yoda

Yoda was a 14-year-old Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mix. She had been abandoned before. Yoda had a malformed nose, short tufts of hair, a tongue that stuck out, and long, hairless legs. She won the 2011 contest. Yoda passed away in her sleep in March 2012 at age 15.

2012: Mugly

The 2012 winner was Mugly, an 8-year-old Chinese Crested. He had a short snout, small eyes, and messy white whiskers. Mugly was owned by Bev Nicholson from Peterborough, England. He was the first dog from outside the United States to win the contest.

2013: Walle

In 2013, Walle, a four-year-old dog, won the contest. He was a mix of beagle, boxer, and basset hound. Walle was known for his big head and duck-like feet. His owner, Tammie Barbee, entered him at the last minute.

2014: Peanut

Peanut, also called Opossum, was a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog. She was thought to be a mix of Chihuahua and Shih Tzu. Peanut's unique look, including deformed lips and eyelids, was caused by abuse when she was a puppy. Her owner, Holly Chandler, rescued her from an animal hospital.

2015: Quasi Modo

Quasi Modo was a 10-year-old mixed-breed dog with Dutch Shepherd and pit bull in her family tree. She won in 2015. Quasi Modo had a short body, a hunched back, and long legs. People sometimes thought she looked like a hyena! Her owner rescued her from a shelter.

2016: SweePee Rambo

The winner of the 2016 contest was SweePee Rambo, a Chinese Crested from Van Nuys, California.

2017: Martha

Martha, a 3-year-old Neapolitan Mastiff, won in 2017. She weighed 125 pounds and had very loose, droopy jowls. Martha was a rescue dog who used to be blind. She was known for her funny personality, often snoring, being gassy, and slobbering on people.

2018: Zsa Zsa

Zsa Zsa, an English bulldog, won in 2018. She was known for her wide stance, underbite, and very long, droopy tongue.

In 2018, they also started the People's Choice Award. This award is based only on online votes. The first winner was Himisaboo, a 12-year-old Chinese Crested Dachshund mix. He was known as the "Trump Dog" because of his natural strawberry blonde "combover."

2019: Scamp the Tramp

Scamp the Tramp was a mixed-breed dog with messy hair that grew into dreadlocks. He also had short legs. Scamp was rescued from the streets. His owner, Yvonne Morales, also owned Nana, a previous winner.

The People's Choice award in 2019 went to Meatloaf, a bulldog with teeth that stuck out.

2020: Contest Cancelled

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest was cancelled in 2020.

On TV and in Movies

Animal Planet has sponsored the event and shown it on television for many years. In 2009, the contest had celebrity judges, including Jon Provost, who played "Timmy" on the TV show Lassie. The event also featured an "Ugly is the New Beautiful Fashion Show" with models and rescue dogs that needed homes.

In 2011, the contest was the main topic of a one-hour documentary called Worst in Show.

Images for kids

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  A 2013 contestant