Vito the Pug made no ordinary feat at the 2024 National Dog Show, winning the title of the Best In Show. On Thursday, Vito became the first-ever from his breed to win the annual Thanksgiving Day canine competition, claiming victory over thousands of other participant dogs from hundreds of breeds. On top of that, judges deemed him the No. 2 toy dog in the country.
Nonetheless, the 2-year-old canine’s accomplishments don’t stop at that. Vito bagged the Best of Bread title at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City earlier this year and placed fourth in the Toy Dog category. Then, last year, the dog won the Best of Breed title at the American Kennel Club National Show.
Vito the Pug beat six finalists to win the National Dog Show competition
Vito the Pug not only made history by winning Best In Show at the 2024 National Dog Show but beat six skillful finalists doing so. According to E! News, after judges named him a frontrunner in the show groups, he triumphed over his competitors to achieve the title. His competition comprised Houston, Monty, Zit, Rupert, JJ, and Verde.
Judge George Milutinovich later declared that Vito, who hails from North Carolina, is “lots of dog in a small package.” Milutinovich listed some aspects, including “compact, features, movement,” which guaranteed him that win. The judge also opined that the 2-year-old canine is “everything a pug should be,” and enthused over how he has “never seen him before. Wow. Just wow.” Actor John O’Hurley, who hosts the National Dog Show, told the New York Post that “everybody loves” Vito.
The Pug’s co-owner, Carolyn Koch, enthusiastically told NBC News that she is “so proud of him.” His handler, Michael Scott, also professed that he had been “optimistic” and praised Vito’s “beautiful head and expression” as well as his “great outline.”
