There’s a new top dog in America.
At the 2024 National Dog Show on Nov. 28, Vito the pug not only won hearts, but also the title of best in show. The 2-year-old pup became the first of his breed to take the prize.
Vito triumphed over around 2,000 other dogs from 205 breeds at the annual Thanksgiving Day canine competition. He was chosen as the best of his breed, before being deemed the frontrunner in the toy dog category.
From there, he went tail to tail with other winners of the show groups: Houston the Clumber Spaniel, Monty the giant schnauzer, Zit the Ibizan hound, Rupert the Berger Picard, JJ the Lhasa Apso and Verde the Welsh terrier—who was named reserve best in show as the runner-up to Vito.
“I’m so proud of him,” Vito’s co-owner Carolyn Koch told NBC News, adding that pugs are “her breed.”
As for how Vito wowed the judges?