A hairless bulldog, 2-year-old and a mix of English and French, has won the popular content of World's Ugliest Dog in 2025, held in California on August 8. The dog and its owner received a cash prize of $5000 (over 4 lakh). The 2-year-old is named Petunia, and it lives in Oregon with its owner, Shannon Nyman. The contest was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday.
A four-member jury was appointed to judge the dogs came from different breeds and parts of the world. Pointing out Petunia, one of the judges said, "She's the most wrinkled 2-year-old I have ever seen." Petunia's weird looks earned it $5,000 as well as being featured on upcoming limited-edition cans of MUG Root Beer, one of the contest sponsors.
After winning the title, the dog was rewarded with the cash prize and a Mug Root Beer merchandise deal. One of the judges expressed that part of what made Petunia a champ was her distinctive appearance, which he described as “a mix between Yoda, she’s a mix between a hippo, a bat,” finally concluding, “she’s got it all.”
Take A Look At The World's Ugliest Dog
Reportedly, the dog was rescued from a backyard at a breeder and hoarder in Las Vegas and now lives in Oregon with its owner. Its owner, Nyman, said Petunia has been getting healthier since her rescue, but the only fur she'll ever sport is a small bit of fuzz on the top of her head.
What is the World's Ugliest Dog Contest?
The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual contest held since the 1970s that takes place at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, during the fourth week of June. The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest began in the 1970s as a way to generate revenue for the Old Adobe Association in Petaluma. Winners for the contest have been recorded since 1976, and it became a part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair in 1988.
