A small dog with the “perfect pug mug” won big at the 2024 National Dog Show.
A pug named Vito was crowned the winner of the annual dog contest, which aired after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28.
Vito and his handler, Michael Scott of Chesapeake City, Maryland, visited TODAY on Nov. 29 to talk about their big win, along with longtime National Dog Show host David Frei.
Frei said Vito “stood out” from the rest of the dogs at the competition.
“He’s got this whole personality about him. He owns the land he stands on. He has the perfect pug mug,” Frei joked TODAY. “That’s what we call it and he also has a great attitude.”
Vito lives with his owner Carolyn Koch in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“It was awesome,” Scott said of helping Vito win the match. “You never know how you’re going to start these things, and everyone starts fresh every day, so it was great to come out on top at the end of the day.”
Scott noticed that Vito celebrated by eating his favorite food.
Vito was smaller than his trophy.
Scott talked about getting Vito ready for the competition, and he said his secret is keeping his dog in “good shape” and feeding him a healthy diet.
“We always brush them and take good care of them. And he gets a lot of exercise. He gets on a trotter. He exercises,” Scott said.
Vito is a veteran of the dog show circuit; he is ranked as the No. 2 toy dog in America.
“Compact, features, movement – everything a pug should be,” Judge George Milutinovich said of the dog. “Wow. Just wow. A lot of dog in a small package.”
To date, Vito has won 25 Best in Shows at approximately 75 dog shows of all breeds.
“Looking at a pug brings a smile to your face,” he added.
Before the match, Scott said he was “optimistic” about Vito’s chances.
“Vito has a beautiful head and expression. Great overview,” he said.
Michael Scott proudly held up this year’s champion.
The competition was organized by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and took place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. This year, there were approximately 2,000 dogs representing 205 breeds and varieties at the National Dog Show, according to the Kennel Club of Philadelphia website.
During the annual dog show, the judges select a first group winner from each of seven groups: sporting, hunting, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. From there, the seven dogs will compete against each other to determine who will win the National Dog Show title of ‘best in show’.
The winning dog will take home the coveted red, white and blue “Best in Show” ribbon and $20,000.
Vito could compete with the competition.
This year the Reserve Best in Show, or second place, went to Verde, a Welsh Terrier.
The other winners of the 2024 National Dog Show Group are:
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Sporty: A Clumber Spaniel named Houston
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At work: a giant schnauzer named Monty
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Hound: An Ibizan dog named The Zit
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Hats: a Berger Picard named Rupert
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Non-sporting: a Lhasa Apso named JJ
The winner of the 2023 National Dog Show came from the terrier group. Stache, the Sealyham terrier, became the first of his breed to win Best in Show at the National Dog Show. It was the first time in eight years that there had been a winner from the terrier group, the last terrier winner being a Skye terrier called Charlie in 2015.
The 2024 National Dog Show was hosted by “Seinfeld” star John O’Hurley, NBC Sports analyst and former professional tennis player Mary Carillo and longtime dog show host David Frei.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
