Rosie the Maltese Shih tzu x Toy Poodle has taken home the title of SA’s ugliest pooch
Her tongue may be permanently stuck out after having 32 teeth removed, but this funny looking Maltese Shih tzu x Toy Poodle (otherwise known as a Malshipoo) has a lot of love to give.
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She may have a somewhat unpleasant appearance, but this dog has the biggest heart.
Rosie the 12-year-old Maltese Shih tzu x Toy Poodle – otherwise known as a Malshipoo – has taken the inaugural title of The Advertiser’s ugliest dog.
Her proud owner Sophie Wagner, now 18, got Rosie when she was just five years old – Rosie was only eight weeks old.
“I distinctly remember Rosie running up to me and following me around when we went to look at the puppies, as a five year old I was obviously attracted to this and decided she was the one I wanted to take home,” Ms Wagner said.
“Ever since then, she has been my greatest companion, with the most content and loving nature – the true definition of a best mate.”
Rosie got her distinct appearance after having 34 teeth removed in 2021, leaving her with her tongue permanently hanging out.
The pooch is “widely loved” by everyone in the family and everyone she meets, not just for her nature but her looks.
“She is always the friendliest dog, running up to anyone she sees and most prominently, working with my mum in an aged care setting and often providing the residents with a sense of love and homeliness on her regular visits,” Ms Wagner said.
One of Rosie’s favourite things to do is to run in the park and eat her favourite foods – barbecue shapes, cheese and cat food.
“I have many fond memories with Rosie from over the years, as she always provided entertainment for my brothers and I as kids,” Ms Wagner said.
“She also loves to always accompany anybody who’s home, always following us around and sleeping in the nearest convenient spot to her owners.”
Meet some other unsightly but loveable pooches:
Spanky the dog has a face only her owners could love.
The nine-year-old Chinese crested pooch was blessed with no hair at all, while her sister from the same litter, Polly, is a powder puff with an abundance of hair.
Spanky’s owners entered her in The Advertiser’s ugliest dog competition due to her hairless nature and skin condition, which leaves her with unsightly red patches across her body.
“She’s a very beautiful and loving dog, but she is an odd-looking thing. Part of it is the breed, she’s also a bit blind and whatnot,” Spanky’s owner Hugh Childs said.
“She reminds me of the hyena in The Lion King, the one that’s a bit goofy-looking.”
Poor little Spanky is blind and often misses steps outside as well as treats given to her by her owners.
“Spanky’s a little bit special in that way, but she’s almost too loving. You’ve got to keep patting her and if you stop she nudges you and climbs all over your face,” Mr Childs said.
“She’s just got that weird look about her and her skin has that funny feel, it’s almost like pork belly.”
Mr Childs said although a kind doggo, Spanky does not attract people.
“A lot of people think she’s lost all her hair but don’t realise that’s the breed. They often ask what’s wrong with her, and we say there’s nothing wrong with her, it’s just the way she is,” he said.
Ruby is three-year-old miniature schnauzer and behaves like any dog.
She loves the beach, a good feed and running around – but she doesn’t look like other dogs … she has no hair.
She has alopecia, meaning that she can’t grow any fluff like other miniature schnauzers.
And now she’s been nominated by her owners for The Advertiser’s ugliest dog competition.
Ruby’s owner Rory Kemp said she hadn’t been picked out of the litter like her siblings, so they took her in along with her sister, Luna.
The sisters have a stark difference in looks, with Luna enjoying an abundance of typical schnauzer fluff and Ruby being the cute but ugly duckling with only a few whiskers.
“My mates at work say Ruby looks like a baby seal so I thought it would be funny to enter her in the competition,” Mr Kemp said.
Ruby is a keen beachgoer but to protect her lovely skin, she needs doggie sunscreen so she doesn’t end up a hot dog.
“Although she looks so different, she is so loved by the family,” Mr Kemp said.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — and of course this famous saying applies to our beloved dogs.
We’ve already crowned SA’s cutest dog, Rosie the border collie, and have learned about all the hard work put in by SA’s winery dogs.
Now, we’re on the hunt for the state’s most loveable but unfortunate-looking dogs, the loveliest ugly will be voted on and crowned SA’s 2023 ugliest dog.
Four-year-old cross breed Peggy was recently named the ugliest dog in Britain, while 17-year-old Mr. Happy Face won the World’s Ugliest Dog contest in California in 2022.
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Meet the top wine dogs of South Australia’s famed cellar doors
It’s a pawfect pairing – wine and pats – and these pups are on duty at some of the state’s best wineries specialising greeting wine lovers and eating leftovers.