Third Lowcountry dog wins best of breed at Westminster Dog Show

A third dog from the Lowcountry won best of breed honors at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday, joining two other dogs from Beaufort and Jasper counties that won best of breed titles Monday.

Mack, a Lagotto Romagnolo owned by Bluffton resident Melanie Steele, won best of breed in the breed’s debut at Westminster. Mack — who turns a year old in March — was one of nine Lagotto Romagnolo entrants in the New York dog show.

Mack joined Steele’s champion greyhound GrandCru Gianconda and Jango, a Spanish Water dog from Ridgeland co-owned by Faith Ott and Janet Rahn, as best of breed winners from the Lowcountry.

Much like Mack, Jango became the first winner in his breed group Monday. Both Spanish Water dogs and Lagotto Romagnolis were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club last year. Ott and Rahn’s dog is the top-ranked Spanish Water dog in the country.

Maya, another Spanish Water Dog co-owned by the women and handled by Rahn, won in her open category as well on Monday.

Gia, Steele’s greyhound, successfully defended her title when she won best of breed Monday afternoon. Since her win at Westminster last year, the greyhound won 16 best in show awards during an impressive winning streak, Steele said last week.

Monday night, Gia competed in the hound group and Jango competed in the herding group competitions, but neither dog placed. Westminster will crown its best in show Tuesday night.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Third Lowcountry dog wins best of breed at Westminster Dog Show."