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The 12 Strangest & Most Lovable Champions: Meet Wild Thang, The Ugliest Dog Ever (2024 Winner)

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The title of "World's Ugliest Dog" is not an insult, but a badge of honor—a celebration of the unique, the imperfect, and the wonderfully odd underdogs who prove that inner beauty always shines brightest. As of the current date, December 18, 2025, the reigning champion who has captured the world's heart with his bizarrely beautiful looks is a resilient Pekingese named Wild Thang, who finally claimed the coveted title at the 2024 World's Ugliest Dog Contest.

This annual competition, held in Petaluma, California, is a decades-long tradition that champions adoption, rescue, and the unconditional love for pets who might otherwise be overlooked due to their unusual appearance. Wild Thang’s victory in 2024, after five previous attempts, is a testament to perseverance and the contest's core philosophy: celebrating the "unusual attributes" that make each dog a one-of-a-kind treasure.

The Reigning Champion: Wild Thang (2024)

Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese from Coos Bay, Oregon, is the current titleholder, taking home the $5,000 prize and the prestigious title in June 2024 at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. His victory was the culmination of a five-year journey of competing in the event, proving that sometimes, the fifth time is indeed the charm.

Wild Thang's Biography & Winning Features

  • Name: Wild Thang
  • Year Won: 2024
  • Breed: Pekingese
  • Age at Win: 8 years old
  • Owner: Ann Lewis (Coos Bay, Oregon)
  • Winning Features: Wild Thang’s signature look is defined by his extremely long and unkempt hair that often covers his eyes, creating a perpetually windswept, mop-like appearance. A key part of his charm comes from a medical condition: he contracted Canine Distemper as a 10-week-old puppy, which left him with permanent damage. This condition prevented his adult teeth from growing in, giving him a toothless grin, and causes one of his legs to constantly twitch.
  • Contest History: Competed five times before finally winning the top prize.

Wild Thang's story is one of resilience. The medical issues that contribute to his "ugliness" are a direct result of overcoming a serious illness, making his victory a powerful symbol of survival and the beauty found in imperfection. His owner, Ann Lewis, uses his platform to advocate for pet adoption and to raise awareness about the importance of pet vaccinations against diseases like Canine Distemper.

The Philosophy of 'Ugly': World's Ugliest Dog Contest Criteria

While the name of the competition, the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, might sound cruel, the event is, in fact, an uplifting celebration of the unique beauty and lovable personalities of dogs who often come from rescue backgrounds. It's a testament to the fact that pedigree does not define a pet and celebrates all dogs, regardless of their physical quirks.

The contest, which has been running for nearly 50 years at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, is judged by a panel of experts who evaluate the contestants based on specific criteria that go far beyond mere looks. The competition rules strictly forbid owners from intentionally altering their animals to enhance their appearance for the contest, ensuring the dogs’ natural attributes are what is celebrated.

The judging criteria focus on four main pillars:

  • First Impressions: The initial reaction to the dog's overall appearance.
  • Unusual Attributes: The specific physical traits—such as hairlessness, underbites, drooping tongues, unusual gait, or birth defects—that contribute to their unique look.
  • Personality: The dog's temperament, enthusiasm, and connection with its owner.
  • Audience Reaction: How the dog engages and is received by the crowd, which emphasizes their "undeniable charm."

The focus on personality and the dog's unique backstory ensures that the winner is truly an "underdog" celebrated for their character, not just their appearance. This positive, adoption-focused philosophy is a key reason why the contest continues to draw global attention every year.

A Hall of Fame: 12 Bizarrely Beautiful Past Winners

Wild Thang joins a distinguished and delightfully strange list of champions. The history of the contest is filled with dogs whose unique features—often a result of genetics, rescue, or injury—have made them international stars. The Chinese Crested breed, often a mix with the Chihuahua, has historically dominated the competition due to its hairless body and tufts of fur, but the list of winners includes mutts and purebreds of all shapes and sizes.

Here is a list of some of the most famous and memorable past winners of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, proving that "ugly" is truly in the eye of the beholder:

The Most Famous World's Ugliest Dog Champions (2003–2023)

  • Scooter (2023): A seven-year-old Chinese Crested/Mutt from Arizona. Scooter’s defining feature is his hind legs, which are turned backward, giving him a unique, forward-leaning gait. He was rescued from a high-kill shelter and uses a mobility cart, embodying the contest's spirit of overcoming adversity.
  • Mr. Happy Face (2022): A Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix from Arizona. This dog was almost 18 years old when he won. His "ugliness" includes a constantly crooked head, a perpetually hanging tongue, and a sparse, punk-rock-style crest of white hair. He was rescued from a hoarder’s house.
  • Scamp the Tramp (2019): A dog of Unknown Breed with a unique, dreadlocked coat and a wild, unkempt appearance. Scamp was a rescue dog found in a public shelter and was known for his advocacy work as a therapy dog.
  • Zsa Zsa (2018): An English Bulldog known for her pronounced, drooling underbite, massive frame, and a tongue that perpetually hung out of her mouth, nearly touching the floor.
  • Sweepee Rambo (2016): A blind Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix who was almost entirely hairless except for a white mohawk on her head. Her tongue also constantly hung out the side of her mouth.
  • Quasi Modo (2015): A Pitbull-Dutch Shepherd mix whose name is a nod to *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*. Quasi Modo was born with multiple severe birth defects to his spine, resulting in a pronounced hump and a shortened body.
  • Peanut (2014): A Mutt whose appearance was the result of severe abuse and burns as a puppy. Her skin was patchy and scarred, and she had an intense underbite, but she was celebrated for her sweet and loving disposition.
  • Walle (2013): A Mutt with an unusually large, boxy head, a disproportionately short body, a humpback, and a waddling, duck-like gait. His unusual proportions made him an instant classic.
  • Yoda (2011): A Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix whose winning features included tufts of coarse hair, a protruding tongue, and long, spindly legs.
  • Elwood (2007): A Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix famous for his perpetually sticking-out tongue and a tuft of white hair on his head that resembled a reverse mohawk.
  • Gus (2008): A Chinese Crested who was a three-legged, one-eyed cancer survivor with a hairless body, demonstrating the resilience of the competitors.
  • Sam (2003, 2004, 2005): The legendary Chinese Crested who won the title three years in a row. Sam was blind, hairless, and covered in warts, becoming one of the most famous "ugliest" dogs in history before his passing.

The common thread among all these champions, from Wild Thang to Sam, is their ability to inspire. They are celebrated not for their looks, but for the incredible personalities and the powerful stories of rescue and survival they represent. The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest serves as a powerful reminder that every dog, no matter how unusual, deserves a loving home and a chance to shine.

The 12 Strangest & Most Lovable Champions: Meet Wild Thang, The Ugliest Dog Ever (2024 Winner)
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