World's Most Unattractive Canine Officially Recognized
Petunia, the Unlikely Champion of the 2023 World's Ugliest Dog Competition
Petunia, a 2-year-old hairless French bulldog mix, has triumphed as the winner of the 2023 World's Ugliest Dog Competition, held at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California on August 8, 2025.
Petunia, owned by Shannon Nyman from Oregon, took home the title with her unique appearance, which includes short, stunted legs, bulging eyes, and a wrinkled face. She also won a $5,000 prize and a trip to New York to appear on NBC’s “Today” show.
Petunia's journey to victory began when she was rescued from a breeder in Las Vegas and underwent corrective surgery on an elongated palate.
In second place was Jinny Lu, a 5-year-old pug with a crooked, protruding tongue. Owned by Michelle Grady, Jinny Lu received a $3,000 prize, having previously participated in the competition in 2023 but going home empty-handed.
The third-place winner was Poppy, a 7-year-old Chinese crested dog known for having very little hair and a lot of bare skin. Poppy was awarded $2,000.
The competition aims to highlight the lovable and beautiful aspects of "ugly" dogs rather than making fun of them. Besides promoting animal adoption, it celebrates unique pets and encourages people to give abandoned animals a new home.
Previous winners include Wild Thang (2024) and Scooter (2023), both of whom came from rescue situations. Wild Thang, the 2021 winner, was known for his wild hairstyle and tongue hanging out to one side, due to being infected with the distemper virus as a puppy.
Petunia and her owner will be appearing on the morning show of NBC in New York on Monday, following in the footsteps of last year's winner, a Pekinese named Wild Thang. The trip to New York is included in the winner's prize.
It's important to clarify that the organizers of the World's Ugliest Dog competition have not been confirmed to euthanize surplus baboons, as suggested in a separate report. Furthermore, the competition does not take place in Nuremberg, as suggested in another report.
Many of the participants in the World's Ugliest Dog competition come from animal shelters, demonstrating the contest's commitment to promoting adoption and giving a voice to less conventional pets.
Petunia's victory in the 2023 World's Ugliest Dog Competition has contributed to the promotion of unique pets, strengthening her lifestyle as a champion for unusual animals. With her owner, she will be attending the "Today" show on NBC, showcasing the entertainment value and lovable aspects of pets with unconventional appearances.
