A few years ago, when Uno the Beagle won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, I had the opportunity to interview him for Pop Culture Madness (his handler, David, provided the human commentary, lest you think I totally went off the rails on a crazy train in interviewing a dog -- although anyone who knows me knows how much I love them!). At the time, the Texas native had made history by becoming the first beagle to ever win the top prize at Westminster, and he quickly became the pride and joy of the Longhorn State. Now, with the next installment of Westminster being upon us today, whoever wins the Best in Show will owe some debt to Uno the Beagle, who has been called the "world's best dog" and is easily the most popular Westminster Dog Show winner to date.

The Star-Tribune caught up with David and Uno, who is now 9, at their ranch in Texas. Even though he is much more mellow, and much less playful, than the dog that won in 2008, Uno is still an overall good dog. He spends his days romping about the farm with potbellied pigs, or driving around in an SUV on the ranch, before retiring for the night beside two female beagles (pimpin'!) on "plush, comfy pillows."

And even though he retired from public life within a month after winning the Best in Show, CBS News is reporting that the pup (who never had puppies of his own because he's sterile) had a pretty decent amount of celebrity perks lorded upon him. He received the first ball at a St. Louis Cardinals game, he had a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, he met then-President George W. Bush, and he even got an endorsement of sorts from Midwest Airlines, where he always rode up front.

In addition, because people would frequently go up to Uno just to pet him, he became a certified therapy dog.

But all of this means nothing to his owner, Caroline Dowell, who said that she "just wanted him as a pet."

And you know what? Honestly, that's all any dog can ask for.