Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and while this pup is fighting to be named Britain’s ugliest dog, her doting owner wouldn’t have her any other way.
Peggy, a four-year-old Chinese Crested pug crossbreed, was adopted by Holly Middleton of Leven, East Yorkshire, when she was just six months old because of her “quirky” looks.
With tufts of hair on her ears and head and a mostly hairless body and a long tongue poking out of her mouth, Holly, 36, admitted to the BBC that her pup is like “Marmite” and that people either love or hate her pooch .
She took her pup into Parrot Print’s competition to determine who has the unluckiest look in the country, and Peggy is one of seven dogs hoping to take home the title, along with the winning prize an advertisement for a nursing session photo shoot.
Peggy, a four-year-old Chinese Crested pug crossbreed, was adopted by Holly Middleton of Leven, East Yorkshire, when she was just six months old because of her “quirky” looks. She is now in the running to be crowned Britain’s ugliest dog
While Peggy isn’t much of a looker, Holly revealed that her unusual appearance doesn’t stop her from living life to the fullest.
“It’s always been like that, but it doesn’t stop her from doing anything, she can eat, she can drink, it goes in her mouth, it just doesn’t stay there,” she said.
Holly said she was attracted to Peggy when she found her on an animal shelter’s website when the pup was just six months old.
“I just love anything that’s a little unloved and unusual. So when I saw her on the adoption website, I knew I wanted to take care of her,” she said.
Five-year-old British bulldog Winston George from the West Midlands is also a contender for the title
Blue, a year-old French bulldog from Rochester, was also shortlisted for the final, with the winner to be announced next month
Jazz, a five-year-old Brusston from North Wales, is also hoping to take home the ugliest dog title
Meanwhile, Holly explained that while naming Peggy was a challenge because no name suited the pet, she and her grandmother finally settled on “Peggy.”
They chose the name as a tribute to their great-grandmother.
The dog lover is unfazed by her pet’s unusual facial features and admits she sometimes forgets that Peggy doesn’t look like a typical dog.
She added that the pup has earned strange looks, gasps and remarks whenever the two go for a walk in the neighborhood.
Holly admitted that Peggy is like “Marmite” and that people either love her or hate her when they see the pet
The dog is mostly hairless apart from a few tufts on her head, paws, and ears, and her tongue pokes out of her mouth
Peggy’s unusual looks have earned her a spot on the shortlist to determine who is Britain’s ugliest dog
And Holly has even admitted that her own children were initially uncomfortable with Peggy’s looks, and her eldest son was embarrassed at how the pup compares to his friend’s nice-looking pets.
The children eventually changed their minds about the dog, which has become an important part of the family.
Other contenders for the crown are Jazz, a five-year-old Brusston from North Wales, and Blue, a one-year-old French bulldog from Rochester.
Meanwhile, Bella, a six-year-old pug from Sheffield, and Marnie, a two-year-old French bulldog from Swindon, are also taking part.
Matt Dahan, founder of Parrot Print, the brand behind the competition, said he received hundreds of entries from across the country and narrowed them down to the last seven in hopes of winning the prize and taking home the title to take.
All contenders will be crossing their paws until the winner is announced next month.
Bella, a six-year-old pug from Sheffield, left, is also among the participants, as is Marnie, a two-year-old French bulldog from Swindon, right
Roger, a one-year-old pug crossed with a miniature poodle from Brighouse in West Yorkshire, also wants to be top dog