Vito the Pug Makes History as National Dog Show Champion

The two-and-a-half-year-old pug becomes the first of his breed to win Best in Show in the event's televised era.

Vito, a pug from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, triumphed over 1,900 dogs across 205 breeds to win the 2024 National Dog Show.
This marks the first time a pug has claimed the Best in Show title since the event began airing on Thanksgiving in 2002.
Vito's handler, Michael Scott, and co-owner Carolyn Koch praised his compact build, movement, and expression, which judges called 'everything a pug should be.'
The National Dog Show, held at the Philadelphia Expo Center, awarded a $20,000 prize to Vito and recognized Verde, a Welsh Terrier, as Reserve Best in Show.
The annual event, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, continues to draw millions of viewers as a Thanksgiving tradition following the Macy's Parade.