The World’s Ugliest Dog: Redux

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We can’t resist returning to the World’s Ugliest Dog contest. This year the crown was foisted on Gus, a one-eyed, three-legged hairless Chinese crested with skin cancer. But we can’t help noticing that Chinese cresteds have taken the title a number of times.

In 2007, Elwood, a Chinese crested-Chihuahua mix won. According to Wikipedia, the 2002 contest was won by a purebred Chinese crested, and Sam, another Chinese crested, was voted the world’s ugliest dog in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His death ended his three-year reign.

In 2006, Archie, left, was voted the World’s Ugliest Dog and he is -- you guessed it -- a Chinese crested.

Some Chinese crested dogs are referred to as powderpuffs, but as you might imagine, they are not the winners of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest. The variety that has dominated the contest is the hairless type. Various sources list them as affectionate and energetic. But it’s that naked, wrinkled skin that seems to be the characteristic contest voters love.

We’re pleased to report that the breed has not been discriminated against in TV and film and has appeared in ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,’ ‘New York Minute, ‘ ‘Good Boy!’ ‘Brazil’ and ‘101 Dalmations.’ It’s also appeared in -- we saw this coming -- ‘Ugly Betty.’

-- Alice Short