While we certainly enjoy the big time dog shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Purina’s National Dog Show, they’re mostly a little too 1% for our tastes. After all, this is a blog of the people, with our blue collars and armpit sweat. That’s why we can appreciate a pooch contest that gives rescue dogs their moment in the sun, like the 2012 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California.

The owners of 29 “ugly” dogs vied for the ultimate title and $1,000 prize over the weekend, but when all the hairlessness and derpy tongues had crossed the stage, only one critter was left standing.

The United Kingdom challenger Mugly took the title after traveling around the world to wrest the title from contestants of questionable beauty with names like Handsome Hector, Creature, Rue, Icky, Spam-O-Rama, and Mouse. Mugly is the UK’s ugliest dog.

Said owner Bev Nicholson, “I couldn’t speak when they announced Mugly’s name. I didn’t know which way to look. I was shaking as much as the dog.”

Not to take away from the ugly efforts of the other dogs, but if I were looking to get a horse (dog) in this race, I’d most certainly go with the Chinese crested, because it just seems like those dogs are the New York Yankees of ugly dog contests. It’s almost unfair.

After the jump, check out the best of the winners and competitors of this year’s World’s Ugliest Dog Contest and be thankful that some people believe that mutt beauty is only skin deep, too.

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Goodnight, sweet princess.

I hate to bring such bad news this early in the day, but on Saturday, March 10, in the early hours of the morning, Yoda passed away at the tender age of 15.

Last June, we celebrated the tale of this Chinese crested Chihuahua mix, as she was named the World’s Ugliest Dog at the annual Sonoma Marin Fair in California. We hardly knew anything about her, but she became sort of a symbol and mascot for us, as she wasn’t the most beautiful creature, but damn it she had personality. You know, in case Kate Upton is searching for metaphors today.

But today we celebrate Yoda for her great life and accomplishments, as she not only towered over her peers in victory and recognition, but she also did that loyalty thing that makes dogs so awesome. Pour a little out for Yoda tonight, friends, and bow your heads as we remember Yoda with the official With Leather mourning jam.

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It’s official – Chinese crested dogs are pretty damn hideous. But they’re adorably hideous, because yet another mangled little crested monster took home the title of World’s Ugliest Dog at this year’s competition at the Northern California Fair on Saturday. Yoda, a 14-year old crested/Chihuahua hybrid abomination, was awarded this prestigious honor with her long, dried out tongue, patches of hair and douchey dog faux hawk.

But as expected, Yoda’s story is one of survival and compassion.

Yoda’s owner Terry Schumacher fled when she first encountered the two-pound dog abandoned behind an apartment building in America, convinced that the animal was a rat.

But on closer inspection, she realised the diminutive ball of hair and limbs was actually a dog.

Miss Schumacher took her home and named her new pet after the pint-sized crumpled-faced Jedi master from the Star Wars films, to whom the dog bears a striking canine resemblance. (Telegraph)

Last year’s champion, a one-eyed Chihuahua named Princess Abby, was back to defend her title against a field that also included a 15-year old blind pug and Handsome Hector, whose owner even made a Facebook page to celebrate his unique looks. Like Yoda, the 2009 champion was also a Chinese crested, as was the 2008 titleholder, which makes the breed the drunken last call fat chick of dogs.

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