The winner of the 2024 National Dog Show presented by Purina has ties to the Chapel Hill community.
Vito, a pug, earned the top prize of “Best in Show” during the Philadelphia-based competition taped earlier in November, which aired on television Thanksgiving Day to a national audience. Vito lives with his owner Carolyn Koch of Chapel Hill, and was handled by Michael Scott of Chesapeake City, Maryland in the competition. His victory marks the first time a pug has earned “Best in Show” in the history of the National Dog Show.
Vito and his handler Michael Scott stand with the Best in Show trophy and ribbon. (Photo via Steve Donahue/seespotrunphoto.com.)
Dog show judges appraise each dog by their overall appearance, temperament, and structure for their breed’s “official standard.”
En route to the win, Vito won the Toy Group and earned the top prize over a clumber spaniel, an Ibizan hound, a Welsh terrier, a Berger Picard, a Lhasa apso, and a giant schnauzer. Vito, Koch and Scott’s prize are a coveted “Best in Show” ribbon and a $20,000 purse — in addition to bragging rights.
Thursday is not the first time one of Koch’s pugs earned some national spotlight. At the 2018 Westminster Dog Show, Koch’s pug named Biggie won the Toy Group and competed in the Best in Show group.
According to NBC, which televised the 2024 National Dog Show after its Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast, more than 20 million people tune into the show each year.
Featured photo via Steve Donahue/seespotrunphoto.com.
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