Who Will Be Crowned The World’s Ugliest Dog?

This Friday afternoon, dogs from around the world will be padding into the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds & Event Centre in California, for the 25th annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest.

Following a getting-to-kn0w-you community fair, a “Tail Wagging” showcase, a presentation called ‘Scents & Scent-Ability’, and a red carpet dogwalk, 20 to 30 of the world’s grossest dogs will go head to head for the top honour. The competition will be judged by a carefully selected panel, who are looking at four categories: first impressions, unique features, personalities, and audience reaction.

The event will be hosted by local radio personalities Bob & Sheri, and the top dog will take home $1500 in cash money (up from last year’s $1000) — as well as a trophy, a photo portrait, a Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Dog Bed, and a romantic dinner for the dog and his/her human, prepared by a top chef.

Although it is panel-voted, the Sonoma-Marin fair are allowing casual dog enthusiasts to also have their say through their online voting gallery. They ask you to treat the occasion with the seriousness that it deserves: “The online voting gallery does mean a great deal to its participants and at times hacking and illegal voting have occurred,” they warn. “We are monitoring this daily and delete suspicious votes.”

Here are our top picks.

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Chupee

Chupee enjoys squinting, smirking and sweaters. Who even knows what breed he is.

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Creature

Creature is a 14-year-old Mexican Hairless mix. She weighs in at 41 pounds. No one is exactly sure what even is going on with her mouth.

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Icky

Another rescue dog, Icky is only two years old. “He has seen his share, and done his part,” his owners proclaim. This is the third annual contest he has competed in.

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Mugly

Last year’s champion, Mugly, is another Chinese Crested. The British native — now eight years old — was viciously attacked in a park by a group of thugs not long ago.

Mugly is last year’s competition winner.

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Boolah

Boolah is half Terrier Mix, and either half Chinese Crested or half Mexican Hairless, depending on which of the neighbour’s dogs was not behaving well that week.

“Boolah’s favourite pastime is sucking on her IKEA carrot,” reads her official bio.

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Isaboo

Isaboo is the son of Boolah and some weiner dog she hooked up with a few years back.

Here is a photo of Boolah and Isaboo wondering around the fairground after last year’s competition.

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Monkey

Unsurprisingly, Brussels Griffons are well-represented in the annual competition; Monkey is half Griffon, half Chinese Crested.

“Paint me like one of your French girls,” she simpers.

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Princess Abby

Princess Abby is missing an eye, and has shorter front legs than her back legs. She won the competition in 2010.
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Rascal

Owned by actor/producer Dane Andrew (Worst In Show), Rascal won the competition back in 2002, and went on to set history by winning the the 2008 Oldest Ugly Dog Contest in Fort Bragg, the Tim Downs Ugly Dog Contest in 2008, the 2009 Ugly Dog Contest first place in Highland, and the 2009 Regal Cinemas “Hotel For Dogs” Ugly Dog Contest in Florida.

He has been cast in four horror movies, holds ten Ugly Dog titles, and is now in something called ‘The Ring Of Champions’.

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Ratdog

Ratdog is a deaf and toothless Chihuahua mix. “Some may think I named him after the Grateful Dead Bob Weir’s band,” his owner writes, “but I named him Ratdog because he resembles a large white rodent.”

“He loves to be cradled in your arms like an infant.”

Ratdog entered the competition in 2011, but did not win.

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Squiggy

Squiggy has competed a few years in a row now. This is his 2010 campaign video.

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