Ugly Dogs Everywhere in 'Worst in Show' Doc

The first thing the title Worst in Show brings to mind is the 2000 Christopher Guest mockumentary Best in Show. Like that award-winning entry from the Waiting for Guffman crew, Worst in Show by filmmakers John Beck and Don Lewis is less interesting for the contestants than for the people who actually own the dogs. The documentary, which will have a special benefit screening in Austin this weekend, focuses largely on the officially trademarked World's Ugliest Dog contest hosted by the Sonoma-Marin Fair each year in Petaluma, California. There, the internet sensation Sam (pictured at right), owned by Susie Tautrim, won from 2003-2005.

Mai Tai, Chi Chi, Miss Ellie, Elwood -- all huge names in the ugly dog world (and now all deceased). They are all Chinese Crested, the dog breed you would least want to be reincarnated as. We're talking the Steve Buscemi of dogs, so ugly even John Waters won't make a movie about them. Competing against these, you have various mutts, boxers, bulldogs, chihuahuas, often rescue dogs, sometimes sick or suffering birth defects. At the Petaluma contest, Chinese Cresteds have enjoyed a winning streak from 2002 to 2008. The streak was finally broken in 2009 by Pabst, a boxer mix owned by Miles Egstad.

The Tim Downs contest in Fort Bragg is the oldest ugly dog competition. Winning both for a sort of "double crown" has only ever been accomplished by Rascal, a Chinese Crested.  Egstad and Dane Andrew, owner of Rascal, feature heavily in Worst in Show, along with their perhaps unhealthy rivalry. Andrew has a 33-year history of showing ugly dogs, including Rascal's mother and grandparents Lady Pink and Chi Chi. Princess Abby, 2010 winner, and her owner Kathleen Francis are also featured as well as new participants -- Chinese Crested Icky with owner Jon, and Winston, owned by Ashley.

Some of these are light-hearted folks just out for a good time while others seem to take things much too seriously, especially Andrew, who has regular talk-show appearances, commercials, etc. But all of them love their pets dearly, perhaps none more than Kathleen Francis, owner of Princess Abby, who won the 2010 contest after the tragic suicide of her companion.

You can see Worst in Show in Austin at a benefit screening for Emancipet on Saturday, June 18 at 8 pm at Emancipet, 7201 Levander Loop. Tickets for the film are $10 and you can buy online through the movie's website.