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 canine competition, 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 David Frei, longtime host of the National Dog Show.
Frei said that Vito “stood out” from the rest of the dogs at the competition.
“He’s got this whole personality to him. He owns the ground he stands over. He’s got the perfect pug mug,” Frei joked on TODAY. “That’s what we call it and he’s got the great attitude too.”
Vito lives with his owner Carolyn Koch in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“It was wonderful,” Scott said, of helping Vito win the competition. “You never know going into these things, and everyone starts from scratch every day, so to come out on top at the end of day was wonderful.”
Scott noted that Vito celebrated by eating his favorite food.
Scott shared how he got Vito ready for the competition, and he said his secret is to keep his dog in “good condition” and feeding him a healthy diet.
“We’re always brushing them and taking care of them well. And he gets lots of exercise. He gets on a Trotter. He works out,” Scott said.
Vito is a veteran of the dog show circuit; he’s ranked the No. 2 toy dog in America.
“Compact, features, movement — everything a pug should be,” judge George Milutinovich said of the pooch. “Wow. Just wow. Lots of dog in a small package.”
“To look at a pug is to put a smile on your face,” he added.
Before the competition, Scott said he was “optimistic” about Vito’s chances.
“Vito has a beautiful head and expression. Great outline,” he said.
The competition was hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and took place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. This year, there were about 2,000 dogs representing 205 breeds and varieties at the National Dog Show, according to the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s website.
During the annual dog show, judges select a first in group winner from each of seven groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. From there, the seven dogs go against one another to determine who will win the National Dog Show’s best in show title.
The winning dog takes home the coveted red, white and blue “Best in Show” ribbon and $20,000.
This year, Reserve Best in Show, or second place, went to Verde, a Welsh Terrier.
The other 2024 National Dog Show Group winners are:
- Sporting: A Clumber Spaniel named Houston
- Working: A Giant Schnauzer named Monty
- Hound: An Ibizan Hound named The Zit
- Herding: a Berger Picard named Rupert
- Non-Sporting: A Lhasa Apso named JJ
The 2023 National Dog Show winner came from the terrier group. Stache, the Sealyham terrier, became the first of its breed to win the best in show title at the National Dog Show. It was the first time in eight years that a winner came from the terrier group, the last terrier winner being a Skye terrier named 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 the dog show’s longtime host David Frei.
Joyann Jeffrey contributed.
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