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The Unconventional Crowns: Meet The World's Ugliest Dog Contest Winners, Wild Thang (2024) And Scooter (2023)

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As of December 19, 2025, the World's Ugliest Dog Contest remains one of the most heartwarming and unconventional annual events, celebrating the beauty in imperfection and the unconditional love between humans and their pets. Held annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, this contest has been running since the 1970s, turning the concept of a traditional dog show on its head by honoring the scruffy, the snaggle-toothed, and the unusually furred. The event is a powerful platform for promoting dog adoption and highlighting the fact that every dog, regardless of its appearance or physical challenges, deserves a loving home.

The most recent winner, crowned in 2024, is the adorably disheveled Wild Thang, a Pekingese who finally took the top prize after years of competition. His victory, and the story of the previous 2023 champion, Scooter, a Chinese Crested with reversed hind legs, perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the event: a celebration of unique attributes and a testament to the resilience and personality of rescue animals. This article dives deep into the stories of these recent champions, the contest's mission, and the specific criteria judges use to determine who wears the crown of "ugliest."

The Reigning Champions: Wild Thang (2024) and Scooter (2023)

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest consistently brings to the forefront dogs whose unique looks tell a compelling story of survival, love, and personality. The two most recent champions are perfect examples of this tradition, captivating audiences with their unusual attributes and undeniable charm.

Wild Thang: The 2024 Champion (Pekingese)

  • Breed: Pekingese
  • Age: 8 years old
  • Owner: Ann Lewis
  • Unique Attributes: Wild Thang is instantly recognizable by his incredibly long, fluffy coat which often obscures his eyes, giving him a perpetually surprised and shaggy appearance. He is a five-time competitor, proving that persistence pays off, as 2024 was his first victory. His triumph is seen as a testament to celebrating the imperfections that make all dogs special.
  • Backstory: Wild Thang's journey is a heartwarming one. He was a rescue dog, and his owner, Ann Lewis, has shared his story to promote the adoption of animals with special needs. His unusual look is a result of his unique genetics and grooming.

Scooter: The 2023 Champion (Chinese Crested)

  • Breed: Chinese Crested
  • Age: 7 years old
  • Owner: Linda Elmquist (Adopted from Saving Animals from Euthanasia)
  • Unique Attributes: Scooter's most defining feature is his reversed hind legs, a congenital condition that gives him a distinct, almost duck-like walk. To aid his mobility, Scooter uses a custom-built mobility cart, which makes him a truly unforgettable sight. He is a perfect example of the Chinese Crested breed, known for their often hairless bodies and tufts of hair on their head, paws, and tail.
  • Backstory: Scooter was rescued from a shelter where he was almost euthanized due to his birth defect. His victory in 2023 brought significant attention to the plight of rescue dogs with physical disabilities, showing the world that special needs dogs can live happy, full lives and even become international celebrities.

The success of dogs like Wild Thang and Scooter highlights a crucial aspect of the competition: it's not about comparing dogs to specific breed standards, but rather celebrating their individual, unusual attributes and their vibrant personalities.

More Than a Beauty Pageant: The True Mission

While the name of the event—The World's Ugliest Dog Contest—might sound like a joke, its underlying mission is profoundly positive and serious. The contest, held annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, serves as a global platform to advocate for dog adoption, responsible pet ownership, and animal welfare.

The competition's history, dating back to the 1970s, has always centered on celebrating the "natural ugliness" of dogs, often those who have been rescued, abandoned, or overlooked because of their unconventional looks or physical ailments. By shining a spotlight on these unique animals, the event encourages potential pet owners to look beyond superficial appearances and embrace the love and loyalty that every dog offers. The prize money awarded to the winner is often used by the owners to cover medical expenses or to donate to local animal rescue organizations, further cementing the contest's philanthropic core.

The event draws a diverse crowd of spectators, media, and dog lovers, all eager to see which peculiar pup will take home the trophy. Notable breeds that frequently compete and win include the Chinese Crested and various mixed-breed dogs, or 'mutts,' as their genetic diversity often results in the most wonderfully strange combinations of features. Past winners like Mugly (2012) and Peanut further illustrate the contest's appreciation for unique physical traits, from extreme hairlessness to mismatched eyes and protruding tongues.

Judging the Unconventional: What Makes a Dog the 'Ugliest'?

The judging process in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest is surprisingly rigorous and is not based on traditional canine beauty standards. The panel of judges, which often includes celebrities, veterinarians, and animal welfare advocates, scores the dogs on a set of specific criteria designed to celebrate their unique qualities.

The criteria are broken down into several key categories, ensuring that the winner is not just a dog with a few flaws, but one whose entire being embodies a spectacular, lovable strangeness. The judges are not interested in a dog's pedigree lineage; both purebreds and mixed-breed dogs are welcomed and judged equally.

The main judging categories include:

  • First Impressions: The immediate impact the dog makes on the judges and the audience. This speaks to the dog's overall presence and unique look.
  • Unusual Attributes: Specific, strange, or unique physical features. This could be anything from a crooked jaw, a missing eye, a tongue that permanently hangs out, or the structural deformities seen in Scooter.
  • Natural Ugliness: This is a measure of the dog's inherent, unforced strangeness. The judges look for dogs whose appearance is naturally unusual, rather than one created by excessive grooming or costuming.
  • Personality and Audience Impression: A dog's temperament and how they interact with the crowd and their owners are crucial. The winning dog must have a great personality that shines through their unconventional exterior, winning the hearts of the spectators.

The winner of the contest is not the dog that is objectively "worst-looking" by a negative standard, but the dog that is most authentically and spectacularly unique. The competition is a lighthearted yet impactful way to promote the message that true beauty comes from within, and that a dog's worth is measured by its heart, not its looks.

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest continues to be a beloved annual event, not just for the spectacle of the competition, but for the powerful, positive message it sends. By elevating dogs like Wild Thang and Scooter to celebrity status, the Sonoma-Marin Fair gives a voice to rescue animals everywhere and reminds us all to embrace the oddities and imperfections in ourselves and our beloved pets. These dogs are true champions of unconditional love and unique beauty.

The Unconventional Crowns: Meet the World's Ugliest Dog Contest Winners, Wild Thang (2024) and Scooter (2023)
world's ugliest dogs pictures
world's ugliest dogs pictures

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