1.) Why would an owner that claims to love their dog want to exploit their dog at an event that is meant to determine ugliest dog? So they can get money for appearances on talk shows or magazine shoots?
2.) If you feel that your dog is so ugly that it could win this competition then maybe it is time to find them a family that will love them and care for them and not make a mockery out of their appearance.
3.) Even if you claim you are entering to raise money for charity or to raise awareness about PuppyMills or unscrupulous breeders. All you are doing is giving those same people something new to breed because it will sell. Yes they do try to create dogs that look like past winners.Which is how there are sons and daughters of past winners who win the competition.
4.) Most of the winners of these competitions come from horrible backgrounds and were injured or malformed and never taken to a vet in a timely fashion in order to help the the dogs live a pain free life nor where they ever give medication to treat the problems or to help them grow properly (some would have required surgery others something as simple as eye drops and proper nutrition and grooming). Other dogs who win this event have skin cancer, horrible skin tags (that could be removed), allergies to certain foods that show up as skin problems, and genetic eye disease that could have been fixed but they leave it so they can win these competitions.
5.) The dog you are entering into these competitions might have received a health certificate so they can fly or a clean bill of health at their yearly vet exam. That doesn't mean they need the added stress of flying or being in large crowds when your money would be better spent on allergy shots to treat your dogs skin condition so that during allergy season in your area they aren't covered in skin boils or on surgery to correct their luxated patellas so they can walk without pain on a rainy cold day.
6.) Some dogs are just old and tired, with scruffy fur, had a few too many treats, and their teeth are starting to fall out due to age. Don't you think your dog would be happier playing in the backyard with a few of the neighborhood kids getting belly rubs and a few more treats then being dragged across the country to be entered into this competition?
Don't believe me about the health of the winners?
Meet Gus 2008 Winner: a one-eyed, three-legged hairless Chinese crested with skin cancer. Who spent most of the three-hour event sleeping in a baby blanket with his tongue hanging out (most likely from age and lack of teeth). Or that he sometimes bites when folks get too close.
Really? A dog who bites when people get too close is not the dog you should be bringing to large events with a ton of people young and old as well as a bunch of other dogs. Adults who encourage their children not to see a dog who came from an unfortunate background who is loved but one that is ugly and drooling and you better be careful before you look like that "Ugly" dog. Not only that but they expect your dog to be friendly and will just stick their hands right up to your dog.
Education:
If your goal is truly education then take your dog to local fun matches in your area and enter them in the happiest dog contest or cutest smile or costume parade. Indiana's single favorite dog show was when she was a puppy at a fun match and I entered her into the wagiest tail competition where the judge got down on the grass with each dog and let them lick them and play with them to get their tails to wag more. Don't get me wrong any event that Indiana goes to that she thinks she is the center of attention is a happy event. The people at these kinds of events will not be able to help falling in love with your dog and want to know your dogs story. Plus there are usually other fun things going on like agility courses set up for your pet to try or booths with treat samples etc.
Create flyers to give to people you meet while out walking your dog so they can read it when they get home.
Start a blog for your dog and join the Pet Community to help spread awareness of your dogs history if you know it or just your dogs story about being the underdog that has turned into the best pet you have ever owned. Hand out business cards everywhere you go to help educate.
Start a fund to help close down a Puppymill or ask your friends to help you chip in for the medical bills of a dog that really needs help before it can go to a forever home.
Why the ugliest dog competition is not an educational event.
There are a number of breeds who because this event has become such a big deal in the media that people who own them can't take them out and about without hearing comment of look over there that's one of those "Ugliest Dogs". The event is not currently set up to create awareness all it creates is ignorance.
I am not saying that people who believe with all their heart that they are educating the public by entering their dog into this event are horrible people just misguided. I also want to point out that Cuda's owners from what I understand do not know her background (don't know if she is full Pit or where her parents came from) as they got her from a shelter so her issues while some are genetic (her jaw) some might be old injuries either inflicted on the sweet dog or that could have been helped to heal properly. For them to say this is what inbreeding and line breeding does to a dog is just spreading false information. Maybe it is true maybe it isn't.