World's Ugliest Dog 2026 crowned as Pug Jinny Lu claims title and $5,000 prize money

 By RAVEN SAUNT, US LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Updated: 23:07, 15 August 2026

The World's Ugliest Dog 2026 has officially been crowned.

Pug Jinny Lu, who was previously rescued from the dog meat trade in South Korea, took home the title.

The six-year-old pooch now lives in Ukiah, California, and is known for 'arguing' with her own reflection

A whole host of dogs went head-to-head to try and claim the title at the annual Sonoma-Marin Fair in Santa Rosa on Friday.

But it was Jinny Lu who clinched the top spot - with her owners claiming $5,000 in prize money and a trip to the Today show.

The event has been running for 50 years and, according to the website, it is not about 'making fun of ugly dogs, but having fun with some wonderful characters.'

The site notes that 'the contest speaks to the importance of advocating for the adoration of all animals and the benefits of adopting.' 

Organizers have said that the real objective is to show the world that 'these dogs are really beautiful!'

Here, the Daily Mail has rounded up the best pictures from the fur-tastic event. 

Pug Jinny Lu, who was previously rescued from the dog meat trade in South Korea, took home the title of World's Ugliest Dog 2026

Little Prince Wonder, a Chinese Crested, held by owner Christopher Wonder, was among the pooches competing

Chihuahua mix Otto was in contention for the title at the annual Sonoma-Marin Fair in Santa Rosa on Friday

Pinky, an albino Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, took home second place - earning $3,000

Traveling from Poland, Clara, a 12-year-old Chinese Crested, also took to the stage at the event dedicated to 'having fun with some wonderful characters'

A pooch named Zebuoodle was also put forward to compete for the accolade 

Held by owner Linda Elmquist, Scooter was among the pets at the event that speaks to the importance of advocating for the adoration of all animals and the benefits of adopting'

https://www.dailymail.com/lifestyle/article-16054151/worlds-ugliest-dog-2026-crowned-pet-pug-jinny-lu-winner.html

I Missed You Today

I MISSED YOU TODAY

I missed you today but that’s nothing new,

I missed you a million times yesterday too.

I picked up my phone to tell you the news,

then realised, again, I can’t text it to you.

I saw your bright smile, at least twenty times,

and then I remember, it’s all in my mind.

I drive without presence, the world feels surreal,

And on comes your song and this doesn’t seem real.

I missed you today but I miss you a lot,

It’s helpful to miss you, it’s all that I’ve got.

I wish I could pull you down here for a while

I’m frightened to lose the shape of your smile.

I miss you today and I’ll miss you tomorrow,

There seems to be no coming end to this sorrow.

I try to go on as I know that you care,

I know that you're willing me on from up there.

I miss you today but I’m trying to find,

A way to move on but not leave you behind.

A way to forge on with the love that we had,

A way to recall you and simply feel…glad.

Donna Ashworth

From my poetry book ‘LOSS’

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/fwIp4VX

US: https://a.co/d/cQC9Wet

Almond Cookies

 

I made these for a friend who is a celiac (can't eat gluten) and he loved them.

Ingredients

      3 cups (300 g) almond meal or flour (ground almonds not flour for 

gluten free option)

• ▢1 cup (220 g) caster/superfine sugar
• ▢⅛ teaspoon almond essence or to taste
• ▢3 large (105 g) egg whites
• ▢1 cup flaked almonds
• ▢icing sugar to dust optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 180 Degrees C (360 F).

  Place non-stick baking paper onto oven trays.
• Put almond flakes into a flat bowl or onto a plate.
• Combine almond meal, sugar and almond essence in a large bowl. Add the lightly beaten egg whites and stir until the mixture forms a firm paste.
• Roll small balls of the mixture, about 3 cm (or 1 ¼ inch) in diameter in the flaked almonds.
• Place the balls onto baking paper-lined oven trays and gently flatten them a little.
• Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the biscuits are lightly browned.
• Cool on racks.

  Store in an airtight container for up to a week. The cookies can also be frozen - see Note 3.

https://itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com/almond-cookies-gluten-and-dairy-free/

Ginger biscuits

 

Ingredients

• 1½ Cups Self Raising Flour, 225 g
• ½ Cup Soft Brown Sugar, packed, 100g
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 2 teaspoon Ginger, ground
• 125 g Butter, room temperature, diced
• 75 g Crystallised Ginger, finely diced/minced
• 5 Tablespoons Golden Syrup, 100 g
• 2 Tablespoons White Sugar, for rolling

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C Fan Forced . Line two baking trays with baking paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and ground ginger, ensuring no lumps of brown sugar remain.
3. Add the diced butter and rub it into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. Finely chop the crystallised ginger to a minced texture using a pull chopper or sharp knife, then add it to the flour mixture.
5. Pour over the golden syrup and mix with a strong wooden spoon until the dough comes together.
6. Roll walnut sized amounts of dough into balls in damp hands, coat in white sugar, and place on the prepared tray. Flatten lightly and space 2-3 cm apart.
7. Bake for 13 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely on the tray, allowing the biscuits to firm as they cool.
8. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
9. Enjoy!

My oven was set on 160 and needs to be strict to set time for 13 minutes bake.

https://justamumnz.com/2021/07/27/best-ginger-biscuits/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTHSKtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF5dmdlZHJqd25GckxtV0RCc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpd4TFDu8haW2JyZNTNHUHn4kNOTD7lABN1VEYP9_F0WDCoHM5m0lkBXEW5A_aem_IosnGylZylBro32kEVKwKw#mv-creation-303-jtr

Fort Belan

 

Fort Belan, built in 1775, history below.  Also have holiday cottages.  Amazing place to stay but remote if you wanted to walk to the pub.  Booklet produced here gives a potted history.  For prices and availability you can contact the owner from the link below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Belan

https://fortbelan.co.uk/index.htm

https://www.historichouses.org/house/fort-belan/visit/

https://www.visitwales.com/accommodation/self-catering/fort-belan-belan-house-540121

A brief history of Fort Belan

The fort was built in 1775 for a reported cost of £30,000 (£3,418,209 as of 2016), by Thomas Wynn, then MP for Caernarfonshire and later to become Lord Newborough. He was worried about the vulnerability of Britain’s coastline to attack, particularly because of the ongoing American War of Independence. Fort Belan was the only purpose-built fort of the American Revolution on the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean. It guards a narrow passage of 35 m (115 ft) width.

In the late 1780s, the barracks were used to ward off raiding American privateers from the Irish Sea. But despite its military history, "no shots have been fired in anger from the fort". In the 1820s, the Wynn family turned it into a private fort for themselves, adding a small harbor for Spencer Wynn's steam yacht. Major construction works took place between 1824 and 1826. The watchtower was built in the 1890s by Freddie Wynn, and it housed a telescope.

In 1907, Sir Ralph Frankland-Payne-Gallwey described seeing a dock, workshops for repairing vessels, marine storehouses, winches, and cranes. During World War II, the fort was again used for military purposes as the base for the Home Guard and two rescue launches. In the 1950s it was owned by Colonel Robert Vaughan Wynn. The Wynn family sold the property in 1992 to the Blundells as a base for marine biology exploration. In 1996 the fort was reclassified as a Grade I listed building.

Sidney Appleton's Book of The Dog

 

One of my books, anitquarian printing in 1907.  It descibes various breeds and also information about their health.  Written by F T Barton.  I've added the section on the Bull Terrier, one of my favourite breeds.

You can buy the modern version from books sites like Amazon for around £12 but there is something special about holding a book which is over 100 years old.  The article needs reading from the bottom upwards.

Rare