Meet Vito, the NC pug who won the 2024 National Dog Show competition on Thanksgiving
A local pup from the Triangle is in the national spotlight after being crowned the top dog in one of the biggest dog show competitions in the country.
On Thanksgiving Day, Vito, a “proud and confident” pug from Chapel Hill, took home the title of best in show at the annual National Dog Show Presented by Purina hosted in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
More than 1,800 dogs of nearly 190 breeds put their best paws forward in this year’s competition to be judged on overall appearance, temperament and structure in the dog show broadcast following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
“Compact, features, movement — everything a pug should be,” George Milutinovich, one of the judges, said in a news release from the competition.
“Wow. Just wow. Lots of dog in a small package.”
‘The champion of pugs’
Vito is owned by Chapel Hill resident Carolyn Koch, who also had several other award-winning dogs since “entering the game in 1992,” The Herald-Sun previously reported.
Before Vito, she had another pug who won the Toy Group at the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, as well as other Westminster breed winners in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2016.
Vito is no different, with this year’s win at the National Dog Show being his 25th title.
“The #2-ranked toy dog in America and #1-ranked pug in all systems, Vito is the champion of Pugs,” the release says.
“Vito claimed Best of Breed at the AKC National Show in 2023 and won Best of Breed at Westminster with a Toy Group 4th earlier this year.”
Two-and-a-half-year-old Vito’s win at the National Dog Show marked the first time in nearly 20 years that a pug has come out on top, NBC News reported, winning a $2,000 prize package for his owners.
“I was optimistic,” Michael Scott, Vito’s handler, stated. “I always hope to get a really good look [from the judge] ... Vito has a beautiful head and expression. Great outline.”
Along with Vito, here’s a look at which other award-winning dogs went far in the show:
Sporting group: Houston, a clumber spaniel from Keyport, New Jersey.
Working group: Monty, a giant schnauzer from Chaplin, Connecticut.
Hound group: The Zit, an Ibizan hound from Spring Hill, Florida.
Herding group: Rupert, a berger picard from Shingle Springs, California.
Non-sporting group: JJ, a Lhasa Apso from Sabot, Virginia.
If you didn’t get to tune into the broadcast of the dog show on Thanksgiving Day, you can watch it on Peacock and find video highlights online at nbcsports.com/national-dog-show.
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Meet Vito, the NC pug who won the 2024 National Dog Show competition on Thanksgiving."
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