Cumberland County leads guide spaniel to win best in group at National Dog Show

Enola resident Lexie Ditlow took a dog named Houston to the National Dog Show and nabbed the top prize in their breed group.

Ditlow and Houston’s appearance at the National Dog Show this year was a first for both, despite Ditlow having been involved in showing dogs since childhood.

And their efforts have paid off as Houston won the Best in Group award for the Sporting category of dogs at the show.

The show was taped Nov. 16 and 17 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and aired Thursday on NBC.

Ditlow said Houston’s career is just beginning and the 2-year-old spaniel will really be in his prime around 4 or 5 years old.

And it certainly won’t be the last time Ditlow appears at competitions either.

“This is the highest achievement I’ve had,” Ditlow said in an interview with PennLive. “I’ve worked really hard to get where I am and I’ve put a lot of my time and effort into this.”

Houston lives in New Jersey with owners Jacquelin Hickey and Cathy Doris along with three siblings.

The Best in Show award eventually went to a Pug named Vito.