Buddy wins 'beautiful bulldog' contest in Des Moines

[April 22, 2008]  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Buddy the bulldog is a sleeping beauty. The reddish brown male can usually be found sleeping on his back, his large tongue lolling out as he snores loudly. But the 3-year-old from Ankeny, Iowa, was wide-awake Monday while being crowned winner of the "Beautiful Bulldog" contest, held in downtown Des Moines. The contest was among events leading up to the Drake Relays, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious track and field competitions.

The beauty contest honors Drake University's mascot, the bulldog.

"He doesn't have a good stamina to him ... he's been laying around all winter," said George DuBois, who owns Buddy with his wife, Cindy. "Just in the last 10, 15 days we've done some walking. We've been getting in shape for this."

The 65-pound Buddy was among 50 bulldogs that came from throughout Iowa as well as Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

"I'm so excited. I didn't think he had what it took to get it," said Cindy DuBois. "His mom is back home and she won't know what to think when he comes home with all this good stuff."

Buddy competed unadorned, unlike many of his rivals. They dressed up as fairy princesses, rock stars, cheerleaders, bumblebees and even Snow White and Mr. T.

Bella Star of Elmwood, Ill., had her nails painted red and wore a Hawaiian lei, pink bikini top and a grass skirt. The skirt slipped off as she strutted down the "dogwalk" before the judges.

"We felt this best represented her personality," said owner Amanda Price. "She's very fun-loving, high-spirited."

It's their distinct characters that make this wrinkly, slobbery breed so attractive, said Dolph Pulliam, who's hosted the event for 18 years.

"It's a beauty pageant -- a beauty pageant with some of the ugliest dogs in world," he said. "But they're so lovable."

Buddy panted heavily as he sat on his throne, getting used to his new crown and cape as photographers snapped his picture. On Saturday, he'll ride in a golf cart at Drake Stadium before about 18,000 spectators.

"I don't think he really wants attention all that much ... he wants to be with people," said George DuBois. "He's just a rascal."

[Associated Press; By NAFEESA SYEED]

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