That little cutie is Yoda, who has just been named World's Ugliest Dog 2011 in the annual at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. She replaces last year's chihuahua champ, Princess Abby.

The 14-year-old Chinese-crested Chihuahua mix has come a long way since since was found behind a block of flats by Nicole Schumacher.

Originally frightened out of her wits and under the impression the mangy-looking mutt was a rat she almost ran a mile.

But on closer inspection she soon discovered it was an abandoned dog in need of a good home and quickly took her in.

While it certainly isn't the type of competition most people would want to enter their hounds into most of the dogs were keen to prove that ugly is the new good-looking and paraded around, proudly showing off their protruding tongues, buck teeth and hairless bodies.

Chihuahua's appear to be firm favourites for the title of the ugliest dog as a pedigree Chinese crested won in 2008 and another Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix was named the ugliest in 2007.