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America has an unlikely breed as its new national dog champion.
For the first time in at least two decades, a pug has been crowned best in show at the 92nd annual National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
The pug, named Vito, is the No. 1 pug in all show systems and the No. 2 toy dog in the U.S, according to a release. He claimed best of breed at this year’s Westminster Dog Show in New York City and best of breed at the AKC National Show last year.
In total, Vito has racked up 25 best-in-shows, even though he is only 2½ years old, said his co-owner Carolyn Koch of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“I’m so proud of him,” Koch (pronounced Cook) said in an interview. She called pugs “her breed” and said she was thrilled Vito was resonating in the show-dog world.
National Dog Show contestants were judged based on overall appearance, temperament and structure according to their breeds’ official standards.
“Compact, features, movement — everything a pug should be,” best-in-show judge George Milutinovich said in a news release. Vito was selected over a top-ranked Welsh terrier, a giant schnauzer, a Clumber spaniel, a Lhasa apso, a Berger Picard and an Ibizan hound.
“Never seen him before. Wow. Just wow. Lots of dog in a small package,” Milutinovich said. “To look at a pug is to put a smile on your face.”
“I was optimistic,” Vito’s handler, Michael Scott of Chesapeake City, Maryland, said in a release. “I always hope to get a really good look [from the judge]. … Vito has a beautiful head and expression. Great outline.”
Vito earned Koch and co-owners Joy Barbieri and Rebecca Movall of Stanfordville, New York, a $2,000 prize.
Reserve best in show (second place) went to a Welsh terrier named Verde and handler Gabriel Rangel, of Rialto, California.
About 2,000 canines convened at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center for this year’s show, which has been held annually since 1933, with its first incarnation taking place in 1879.
The National Dog Show is an all-breed show run by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and authorized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Any AKC-registered dog can enter.
Last year’s winner was a Sealyham terrier named Stache.
Every National Dog Show from 2013 to 2023 can be streamed on Peacock. NBC and Peacock are owned by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.
CORRECTION (Nov. 28, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the prize money Vito’s co-owners won. It is $2,000, not $20,000, which is the total amount of prize money awarded at the show.
Rob Wile is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist covering breaking business stories for NBCNews.com.
© 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
