Meet the dogs competing for UK’s ugliest pooch title

Beauty is the eye of the beholder, and although this pup is competing to be named the UK’s Ugliest Dog, her doting owner wouldn’t have her any other way.

Peggy (pictured), a four-year-old Chinese Crested and pug cross, was adopted by Holly Middleton, from Leven, East Yorkshire, when she was just six-months-old, due to her ‘quirky’ appearance. With tufts of hair on her ears and head and a mostly hairless body, and a long tongue sticking out of her mouth, Holly, 36, admitted to the BBC that her pup is like ‘Marmite,’ and that people either love or hate the pooch.

She entered her pup in the competition run by photography printing firm Parrot Print to determine who is the country’s most unfortunate-looking pup, and Peggy is one of seven dogs hoping to take the title home, along with the winning prize of a grooming session ad photoshoot. While Peggy is not much of a looker, Holly revealed that her unusual appearance doesn’t stop her from living life to the fullest.

 ‘It has always been like that but it doesn’t stop her from doing anything, she can eat she can drink, it does go in her mouth, it just doesn’t stay there,’ she said. Holly said she was drawn to Peggy when she found her at a shelter’s website when the pup was just six-months-old. ‘I just love anything that is a bit unloved and unusual, so when I saw her on the adoption website I knew I wanted to take care of her,’ she said. Meanwhile Holly explained that whilst naming Peggy had been a challenge, because no name suited the pet, she and her grandmother eventually settled down on ‘Peggy.’

They settled on the name in tribute to her great-grandmother. The dog lover is unphased by her pet’s unusual features, and admits she sometimes forgets that Peggy doesn’t look like a typical canine. She added the pup’s has earned herself strange looks, gasps and remarks when they pair go on their walk around the neighborhood. And Holly has even admitted that her own children were not at ease with Peggy’s looks at first, with her eldest son being embarrassed with how the pup compares to his friend’s nice-looking pets. The children eventually changed their mind about the dog, who has become an important part of the family.

Other contenders looking to take the crown include Jazz, a five-year-old Brusston from North Wales, and Blue (pictured), a one-year-old French Bulldog from Rochester.

Meanwhile Bella (pictured), a six-year-old pug from Sheffield and Marnie, a two-year-old French Bulldog from Swindon, are also competing.

Matt Dahan, the founder of Parrot Print, the brand behind the competition, said he received hundreds of entries from around the country, and narrowed it down to a final seven, all hoping to win the prize and take the title home. Pictured: Five-year-old British Bulldog Winston George, from the West Midlands, is also a contender for the title.

All contenders will be crossing their paws until the winner is set announced next month. Pictured: Jazz, a five-year-old Brusston from North Wales, who is also hoping to take the Ugliest Dog title home.

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