(WFRV) – Vito the Pug stole the spotlight at the 2024 National Dog Show, becoming the first pug in over a decade to claim the prestigious Best in Show title.
The annual televised event, held on Thanksgiving Day in Pennsylvania, is a beloved tradition broadcast after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Representing the Toy Group, Vito won over the judges with his lively personality. Head judge Michael Faulkner said Vito was “the epitome of the pug breed – small in stature but big in presence.”
This year’s competition featured over 2,000 dogs across seven groups. Verde, a Welsh Terrier, took the Reserve Best in Show title, while Vito snagged the overall favorite. Vito beat more than 1,900 dogs representing more than 200 breeds and varieties that competed in this year’s competition.
Owned and trained by Rachel Thompson, Vito’s win makes a historic moment for pugs and solidifies his place in canine history. “Vito’s always been a superstar at home, and now the world sees it too,” says Thompson.
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The National Dog Show, hosted annually by the Kenny Club of Philadelphia and sponsored by Purina, has been a Thanksgiving tradition since 2002, drawing millions of viewers each year.
For the rest of the 2024 National Dog Show results, click here.
