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Rose has always been a true diva, and now the dog's owner, Lisa Kerner, says she has the bragging rights to go along with her attitude.
The 8-year-old purebred black pug won the "Doganista/Best-Dressed Dog" category in the Gund "Top Dog" contest, which ran July 16 through Aug. 15 on the plush toy manufacturer's Facebook page.
"She has won ribbons and trophies in dog events, but this is major," said Kerner.
Kerner posted a photo of a very dressed up Rose on the Gund Facebook fan page, where people could vote on their favorite dog in four different categories.
The other categories were "Face Only a Mother Could Love," "Most Beautiful Dog" and "Dog That Most Resembles its Owner."
The contest received 1,305 entries and more than 50,000 votes.
Rose received a plaque and $250 worth of Gund products for her win.
A winning campaign: Kerner attributes Rose's win to the pug community that Kerner is part of on Facebook.
"I have 2,500 friends on there, and honestly I probably only know 100 of them, but you talk on Facebook so you feel like you know them," she said. "We had a huge campaign going.
"It was a lot of work," Kerner said. "As soon as I got home from work I'd be back on the computer rallying things."
Kerner, 50, lives in Airville and owns four other pugs.
Other endeavors: She runs her own business, Love of Pug Pet Sitting.
She also began Pugs For Pinky, when Rose's daughter, Pinky, died of a brain tumor. Pugs For Pinky is a foundation to raise money for other dogs with illnesses.
"I am considered a dog pageant mom," Kerner laughed. "These are my kids. I don't have human kids; I have pugs. Everyone says I would have been a pageant mom if I had human kids, but I'm fine doing it with the dogs."
Rose has been dressing up since the day Kerner got her.
"She loves clothes and hates to be naked. She wears dresses, shoes, scarves -- you name it, she wears it," Kerner said. "Seriously, if you take her clothes off she runs and hides."
Some of Kerner's other pugs like to be dressed up, but none as much as Rose.
Pugs are great companion and lap dogs, she said.
"They don't need a lot of exercise but they do need a lot of care," said Kerner.
-- Reach Chelsea Shank at 505-5432 or cshank@yorkdispatch.com
