World's Ugliest Dog

The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is held every year in California at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Categories for the contest are Pedigree Class, Mutt Class, Ugly Dog of the Year, and Ring of Champions. The Ugly Dog of the Year is chosen from the winners of the Pedigree and Mutt Classes. The Ring of Champions Category is battled between the dog chosen for Ugly Dog of the Year and all previous World's Ugliest Dog Winners in attendance. The winner of the Ring of Champions earns the title of World’s Ugliest Dog.

The winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest for the last three years was a Chinese Crested Hairless named Sam. Sam was 14 years old when he died on November 18, 2005, leaving behind his person Susie Lockheed, his sweetheart Tater Tot and thousands of adoring fans. As a purebred Chinese Crested Hairless, Sam had no hair except for a wispy tuft on top of his head. He was also blind with opaque, milky white eyes adding to his frightening look. His bare skin was blotchy and a prominent row of warts ran down his snout. His teeth stuck out at all angles, he had a big hernia bulge and a lymphoma in the middle of his chest. His looks are most often compared to the Crypt Keeper. Sam is definitely the most famous World’s Ugliest Dog, featured on CNN, riding in limousines, and meeting with Donald Trump. He may also be the ugliest dog to ever win the contest so far, but appearances aren’t everything.

Susie adopted Sam in 2000, and misses him so much that she now sleeps with his favorite stuffed animal. What started out as a 48 hour trial period with a dog she was terrified of turned into five beautiful years of companionship and was the catalyst for change in her love life. When Susie brought Sam home her then-boyfriend was so disgusted that he left her. In the end, it was for the best. Susie’s current boyfriend was drawn to her when he saw her picture with Sam on an online dating service.

Zippy was Sam’s long distance girlfriend. She was about a year older than Sam and passed away in late 2005, shortly after Sam’s death. Zippy had many claims to fame of her own featured in the book Bad Dog, a calendar title 365 Days of Dogs, and an appearance on the John Walsh Show. Zippy was the Florida champion for ugliest dog contests and the mother of PeeWee AKA son of SAM. As rumors have it PeeWee may be the next big contender for World’s Ugliest Dog.

The Sonoma Marin Fair is still running the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. In addition to the Ugly Dog categories, there is a Crazy Dog Tricks Contest. Early entries are encouraged and can participate in on-line voting in 2006. Dogs from all over the world can compete. Entry forms are available online.

Check back here each July to find out who has been chosen the new World's Ugliest Dog!

• 2006
  

Archie, a Chinese Crested from Arizona has been chosen this year's winner. Archie is loved by his very proud owner Heather Peoples, pictured here with him.

To view the entire entry field for 2006, click here.

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