Tiberius Crowned King of Wrinkles, Drool

DES MOINES, Iowa — Tiberius will reign as king of the bulldogs at this year’s Drake Relays after winning Drake University’s "Most Beautiful Bulldog Contest."

"He rides in a golf cart around the track as the announcer announces him as the 2005 most beautiful," said Dolph Pulliam, director of community outreach and development. "It is a coveted thing."

The 2 1/2-year-old English bulldog from suburban Des Moines, owned by Karen and Phil Swift and their three children, was chosen from about 50 bulldogs from states throughout the Midwest who all were carefully primped by their owners.

"So, what they look for is the ugliest bulldog you can find, that only a mother would love … droopy eyes, protruding teeth, slobbering," Pulliam said.

But looks aren’t everything. Pulliam said the dog has to have a great personality, too. "We’re talking congeniality," he said.

Tiberius has loads of that, Karen Swift said.

"He’s very gentle. He loves to be played with and petted," she said. "He’s a typical bulldog."

Tiberius, tagged with the middle name of Star Trek’s Capt. James T. Kirk, has entered the contest twice before and lost, but Swift said things were different this time.

Was it grooming?

"Nope. Just maturity, I guess," Swift said.

Dogs get prizes for being the youngest, the oldest or traveling the farthest.

Many try for best costume. It was a three-way tie this year, Pulliam said, between a sailor, a student and a cheerleader.

"I don’t think the president would let us have a swimsuit competition," he said, pausing.

Then it’s time for every dog’s turn to strut his stuff.

"Each of the bulldogs walk the fashion show ramp, while the last year’s king sits on the throne and watches them all go by," he said. "Once in a while, one of the bulldogs walking by will either growl or snap at the king sitting on the throne."

That’s when the biscuits are brought out.

"Some will have little temper tantrums. We sort of grab some treats and get them to separate," Pulliam said.

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On the Net: Drake University: http://www.drake.edu/  

Drake Relays: http://www.drakerelays.org/