Ori, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel trained by Lancaster handler, won Best of Breed at Westminster

• By Jenelle Janci/LNP | LancasterOnline

Ori, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel led by an East Lampeter dog handler, won Best in Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City Monday.

Alexis Schlott, 25, showed Ori, or Grand Champion Gold Bonitos Companeros Orinoco, at the 2025 show in New York City. The dog is co-owned by Chris Meager of Hatfield and Kim Hess of Lancaster.

Ori was one of 40 entrants in his breed-specific category. Winners of individual breed categories advance to the group competitions. Ori advanced to the toy group but did not place. Winners of group competitions advance to vie for Best in Show.

But, Schlott, a 2018 Cocalico High School graduate, is more than pleased by Ori’s performance. She first showed Ori at Westminster in 2023, where he did not place. In 2024, he was named Select Dog, or second place for his sex, in his individual breed competition. That gave Schlott a goal.

“I was like, this dog is good enough,” Schlott said. “He can win the breed.”

When he did just that at this year’s dog show, it was emotional for Schlott.

“It was really touching,” Schlott said. “It was all I wanted as a young girl. I followed many mentors to watch them win breeds and show at Westminster, show at the Garden (Madison Square Garden). I was like, I want to be like that.”

And how did Ori celebrate his big win?

“His celebration was once he got back into the hotel room,” Schlott said. “That little boy jumped on my bed and said, alright, peace out, I’m going to sleep.”

The win is bittersweet, though, as Schlott doesn’t plan to return to Westminster with Ori next year. Now that the dog is 5, Schlott and Hess, her mentor in dog handling, plan to be more selective with what competitions Ori will participate in.

Schlott, who owns the grooming, training and handling business Tophats and Tails, was also pleased that Amigo, a young Cavalier showed by her partner Craig Larson, earned an Award of Merit in the breed-specific category. Schlott plans to show Amigo, or CH Huntmagic Amigo, at future events. Amigo is owned by Stephanie Froelich of Ohio.

But, there will always be a special place in Schlott’s heart for Ori, whom she describes as “the most loyal dog that I’ve probably ever worked with.”

Another local dog, Buzz, a mini poodle from Conestoga, was scheduled to compete Monday, but his handler sent him home unexpectedly before the competition.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began Feb. 8 and 10 and continues today, with daytime events at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and evening events at Madison Square Garden. The first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was at Gilmore’s Garden — a forerunner of Madison Square Garden — in 1877.