In a historic moment at the 2024 National Dog Show, Vito the pug made history by winning the top prize of best in show. The 2-year-old pup became the first of his breed to achieve this honor, triumphing over 2,000 other dogs from 205 different breeds at the Thanksgiving Day event. Vito was praised for his compact features, movement, and for embodying everything a pug should be according to the judges.
Vito’s co-owner Carolyn Koch expressed pride in the pug’s victory, stating that pugs are her breed. The best in show judge George Milutinovich described Vito as having “lots of dog in a small package” and commented on how looking at a pug can bring a smile to anyone’s face. Vito’s handler Michael Scott had high hopes going into the competition, citing the pug’s 24 best-in-show titles from previous competitions and his impressive features that set him apart.
Vito’s win follows in the footsteps of Stache the Sealyham terrier, who was the first of his breed to win best in show at the National Dog Show in the previous year. Stache’s victory broke an eight-year streak of terriers not winning the competition, beating out a strong group of competitors including a German shepherd, a Great Dane, and a dalmatian. The National Dog Show is a highly anticipated event each year, with thousands of dogs vying for the coveted title of “Best in Show.”
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Photo credit www.nbcnewyork.com