Dinner Dance Gets Barrington Hills Pug on Alpo Cans

Alpo's hungry new face is a Barrington Hills pug selected for his habit of spinning like a top whenever he attacks his food dish. Thanks to his frenzied chowdowns, Ike earned the right to appear on 2.5 million cans of dog food.

As part of his reward, Ike will soon be whisked off to Los Angeles to hobnob with other celebrity dogs, including Bruiser from the "Legally Blonde" movies and Gidget, the Taco Bell Chihuahua.

"We're pretty excited," said Mary Beth Holsteen, 51, who entered her 18-pound pug into Alpo's nationwide video competition. Asked to show why their dog was a "meat maniac," it was no contest.

Holsteen and her husband, Frank, knew Ike's daily pre-dinner routine would make him a heavyweight contender. They filmed the dog spinning around and around — as he does every day at meal time — before diving head first into his bowl. Click here to see the video.

He eats with such gusto that his hind legs actually go airborne. Impressed with his antics — and appetite — the judges chose Ike from about 200 contestants. The 4-year-old pug spent his puppyhood barking at mail carriers and attending suburban Little League games.

Local pug enthusiasts were thrilled by his selection. "It will probably have a good effect, especially if it's a good picture," said Lisa Farrell, president of Midwest Pug Rescue, which works to help find new homes for abandoned pugs.

As a prize, the Holsteens get a hometown party and $10,000. Ike gets a year's supply of the dog food.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]