While no pet owner likes to think of his dog as 'ugly', in this competition the uglier the judges think your pooch is, the better are its chances of winning the title of - The World's Ugliest Dog'.

Now in its 21st year, the annual contest is one of the most popular events at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. This year's competition which attracted dogs from as far as Rhode Island,     will be also be shown on television in a special Animal Planet episode, which will be aired in October.

As has been the case for many years, the competition was dominated by Chinese crested dogs, who have won for the last seven years. However, this year their reign came to an abrupt halt, thanks to Pabst, a 4-year old boxer-mix shelter dog, with a sweet personality and large underbite.

His owner, Miles Egsted was stunned by the victory, especially given the fact that Pabst was competing with former world champion, Rascal (pic above).

Besides winning the grand prize, Pabst also won in other sub-categories including 'mutt'  - and earned his owner a cool $1,600 USD, in total prize money. He also received $1,000 USD, a bunch of dog accessories and a one-year modeling contract with the 'House of Dog', a web retailer that specializes in canine couture.  

Not bad for a dog who was adopted from a mobile adoption agency and whose only skills in life according to his owner, are snoring and hanging out on the couch.

However, Miles insists that Pabst does have a beautiful smile and was even declared the winner at this year's SPCA Doggy Dash - 'Most Beautiful Smile Contest'. He sure is a dog of many talents or should we say faces!

sources: sonoma-marinfair.org,sacbee.com, phillyburbs.com