Jeanenne Teed holds Gus at the World's Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, California. Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty
If dog-owners are meant to end up looking like their pets then Jeanenne Teed from Florida is probably relieved that there are always exceptions to any rule.
Gus, her three-legged one-eyed pooch would not get a look in at Crufts and would scare small children, and most grown adults, at 20 paces.
The pedigree Chinese crested dog took the top prize at the World's Ugliest Dog contest on Saturday at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Northern California.
After all the excitement and the prospect of stardom with an appearance on CBS, the top dog was exhausted.
"Well, I think right now he's ready for a nap," said Jeanenne.
Most of the dogs who enter the competition, which has been running for 20 years, are rescue animals, according to a spokeswoman. Suffering at the hands of neglectful owners or the claws of other four-legged friends goes a long way to explain their unusual appearance.
Gus lost an eye having come off worse in a fight with a cat and had his leg amputated because of a tumour.
According to the BBC, Jeanne said she would spend the $1,600 (£800) prize on treatment for Gus's skin cancer.
Previous winners include Sam, a particularly hideous looking creature, who died soon after taking the trophy in 2005. After he passed away, his owner admitted: "I don't think there'll ever be another Sam. Some people would think that's a good thing."
