The Midstate handler attended the National Dog Show

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – Alexis Ditlow grew up in Camp Hill. She has been showing dogs since she was five years old.

“And probably even before that, because my mom has been doing this for almost 40 years,” said professional dog handler Alexis Ditlow.

The National Dog Show is held every year in Philadelphia and is pre-recorded. This year around 2,000 dogs of different breeds were present. They compete for the title of “Best In Show”.

“Each dog is evaluated based on their breed standard and how good they are. There is a written breed standard about what characteristics it has and what it should look like,” Ditlow said.

Ditlow has competed in the National Dog Show for several years and earned her first win this year.

“The sporting group with the Clumber Spaniel named Houston,” Ditlow said.

Houston lives with his family in New Jersey.

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“I would call him one of my client’s dogs and also my good friend.”

Houston is two years old, but Ditlow has been working with him since he was six months old.

“It’s really important to allow the dogs to go home between shows, and for people they’re kind of their family pets. You know, it’s not just circus dogs. They actually have families that love them,” Ditlow said.

Because Houston became the top dog in his group, he competed against six other dogs to win the title of Best in Show and $20,000.

“Winning one of the groups and making it to the finals, seven out of 2,000 dogs, is certainly a first and a life goal for me,” Ditlow said.

So did Houston win the big title? “Unfortunately I can’t tell you who will win best on the show you have to see on Thanksgiving Day, but it is very, very exciting and certainly a highlight of my career so far,” Ditlow said.

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