"Who are you calling ugly?" Photo: Dane Andrew/TEN
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but Rascal, a 10-year-old Chinese crested dog, truly has a face that only a parent could love. Rascal currently holds more ugly dog contest titles than any other mutt in history -- and for good reason. With his waggling tongue and spiky mohawk, he's been mistaken for a tiny horse, a ferret and a
chupacabra, says his owner Dane Andrew.
What's it like to spend every day with the world's ugliest dog? Andrew spoke to Paw Nation about life with Rascal.
What makes Rascal so ugly?
He grew up without a lot of his teeth, so his tongue hangs out. He's naturally hairless, with lots of warts and splotches. He has kind of a rat's tail and a mohawk. I think he's a great looking dog, and he grows on people. The first minute they see him there's a shock value but after they spend time with him, they say he's actually not that bad. I actually think he's very handsome.
What's his personality like?
He's healthy and full of energy. He's pretty exuberant, especially when he's around people he knows. He's a lot of fun. He doesn't bark at anyone and he always gets along with other dogs.
You've been around ugly dogs almost your whole life, haven't you?
Rascal's grandfather, a rescue named Chi Chi, was my birthday present when I was 11. I heard barking and my mom had me cover my eyes. When I uncovered them, there was this little charcoal-colored dog with no hair. I didn't even know what it was. He's in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning the World's Ugliest Dog contest eight times. Meanwhile, Rascal's grandmother Lady Pink won three times, and his mom Mai Tai won three times. Now Rascal is champion of the most ugly dog contests of any dog in history. He just won a second time at the world's Oldest Ugly Dog Contest. This is my 33rd year showing ugly dogs from this dynasty of four dogs. I didn't really set out to do that. It has turned into a really fun thing.
Source
The Doggie Diaries: At the Dog Park, Part 1 -- The Brawl
