The Unconventional Champions: Meet The World's Ugliest Dog Contest Winners (2025 Update)
The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is not a mockery of man's best friend, but a heartwarming, annual celebration of the unique beauty, resilience, and spirit of dogs often overlooked due to their unconventional looks. Held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, the competition turns perceived flaws into celebrated features, championing the cause of pet adoption and proving that "pedigree does not define a pet."
As of late December 2025, the contest has once again crowned a new champion, adding another inspiring rescue story to its nearly 50-year history. This listicle dives deep into the most recent winners, their unique biographies, and the heartwarming mission behind the contest that celebrates the "glugly"—a perfect mix of glamour and ugly.
The Reigning Champion: Petunia (2025 Winner)
The title of the World's Ugliest Dog for 2025 was claimed by Petunia, a two-year-old hairless English-French bulldog mix whose unique look and inspiring rescue story captured the hearts of the judges and the public. Petunia's victory continues the contest's tradition of honoring dogs who have overcome adversity.
Petunia's Biography and Triumph
- Year Won: 2025
- Name: Petunia (also known as Pinky)
- Breed: Hairless English-French Bulldog Mix
- Age: 2 years old (at the time of winning)
- Owner: Shannon Nyman
- Hometown: Eugene, Oregon
- Prize: $5,000 and a trophy
- Unique Story: Petunia was rescued from a backyard breeder in Las Vegas by the Luvable Dog Rescue in Oregon. Her journey from a difficult start to becoming a global champion highlights the importance of animal adoption and rescue organizations.
- Distinguishing Features: As a hairless mix, Petunia sports a unique physique and a charming, slightly bewildered expression.
Petunia's win, announced in August 2025, resonated deeply with the contest's core values. Her owner, Shannon Nyman, emphasized that the competition is not about cruelty but about celebrating the dogs who might otherwise be overlooked.
The Unforgettable Runner-Up: Wild Thang (2024 Winner)
Before Petunia took the crown, the 2024 champion was a fluffy, beloved competitor who had become a perennial favorite: Wild Thang. His victory was a long time coming, having competed in the event multiple times before finally securing the top spot.
Wild Thang's Biography and Journey
- Year Won: 2024
- Name: Wild Thang
- Breed: Pekingese
- Age: 8 years old (at the time of winning)
- Owner: Ann Lewis
- Hometown: Coos Bay, Oregon
- Prize: $5,000
- Unique Story: Wild Thang's journey to the crown was a testament to persistence, as he had competed five times before his 2024 victory. His owner affectionately describes his look as "glugly."
- Distinguishing Features: His most notable feature is his perpetually shaggy, unkempt fur, which is a result of a distemper virus he contracted as a puppy, preventing his adult teeth from growing and causing his tongue to often hang out.
Wild Thang's win was a major media event, highlighting how the contest celebrates dogs with medical conditions and physical quirks, turning them into international stars. The Pekingese's win also underscored the high concentration of winners from the Pacific Northwest, with both the 2024 and 2025 champions hailing from Oregon.
A Hall of Fame: Notable World's Ugliest Dog Contest Winners
The World's Ugliest Dog Contest has a rich history dating back to the 1970s, consistently featuring breeds like the Chinese Crested, which frequently dominates the competition due to its unique hairless and tufted appearance, and various mixed-breed rescue dogs. The contest's longevity is a powerful statement on celebrating differences and promoting animal welfare. Here are some of the most memorable past champions who have achieved worldwide fame.
Recent and Iconic Champions (2015–2023)
- Scooter (2023): A seven-year-old hairless Chinese Crested dog who won the title with his unique, backward-facing hind legs, a birth defect that requires him to use a cart but doesn't stop his joyful spirit. His owner, Linda Elmquist, rescued him from a shelter.
- Mr. Happy Face (2022): A Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix whose appearance is marked by a permanently crooked mouth, a mohawk of white hair, and a head tilted to the side. Owner Janeda Banelly adopted him from an Arizona shelter.
- Scamp the Tramp (2019): A mixed-breed dog whose matted, dreadlock-like fur and wide-eyed stare earned him the crown. He was a rescue from a Los Angeles animal shelter, showcasing the triumph of the mutt.
- Zsa Zsa (2018): A massive, nine-year-old English Bulldog whose most distinguishing feature was her extremely long, droopy tongue and pronounced underbite. She won the title after traveling 30 hours from Anoka, Minnesota.
- Martha (2017): A 125-pound Neapolitan Mastiff known for her bloodshot eyes and incredibly loose, sagging facial skin (jowls) that covered her eyes when she shook her head. Martha brought a different kind of "ugly" to the competition.
- Sweepee Rambo (2016): A blind Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mix who was a crowd favorite with her two small pigtails of white fur on top of her head and a perpetually hanging tongue.
- Quasi Modo (2015): A Pitbull-Dutch Shepherd mix whose appearance was likened to the Hunchback of Notre Dame due to multiple birth defects in his spine. His owner, from Florida, celebrated his unique look.
Historical Legends
- Yoda (2011): A Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix who was initially mistaken for a rat by his owner.
- Elwood (2007): A Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix who was famous for his tuft of white hair on his head and his owner's commitment to proving that his unique look was beautiful.
- Sam (2003, 2004, 2005): A three-time champion Chinese Crested who is perhaps the most famous winner in the contest's history, known for his wrinkled skin and sparse hair.
The True Meaning of the Contest: Adoption and Advocacy
While the World's Ugliest Dog Contest generates headlines for its humorous premise, its true intention is far more profound: animal advocacy and the promotion of rescue and adoption. The contest is a powerful platform for organizations like Luvable Dog Rescue, which saved Petunia, and various other shelters across the country.
Every dog that enters, from the hairless Chinese Crested to the oddly-proportioned mixed breed, serves as an ambassador for the idea that love and companionship should not be conditional on conventional good looks. The competition celebrates the "inner beauty" of these animals, many of whom have endured difficult lives before finding their forever homes. The prize money often goes toward further veterinary care for the winner or is donated to animal welfare organizations.
The annual event in Petaluma, California, is a yearly reminder to potential pet owners to look beyond physical appearance and open their hearts to a dog who needs a home—no matter how quirky, shaggy, or unconventional they may look. The champions, like Petunia and Wild Thang, prove that the dogs with the most unique looks often have the most love to give.
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