If the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is America’s premier event in the sport of dogs (and they’ll have their 150th show early next year!), its UK counterpart is Crufts. Named after dog biscuit manufacturer Charles Cruft, the club is not quite as old as Westminster (Crufts was established in 1891, Westminster in 1877), but boasts being the largest dog show in the world. And now they’re set to break another record: three-year-old Caitlyn Mellor of Powys, Wales has just qualified to show her Miniature Schnauzer Zeeva at next year’s big show, making her the youngest handler in the event’s history. Way to go, Caitlyn! While the little tot is undeniably precocious, she’s been around dogs and the show world her whole life. Her mum Lydia also started showing dogs as a kid (as a 10-year old, so much older than Caitlyn), and the Mellors currently run Lyzahro, their own show kennel company specializing in Miniature Schnauzers. When asked by the BBC to comment on her interest in competing with Zeeva, Caitlyn simply said, “I like running around with her.”
Caitlyn Mellor, 3, and her Miniature Schnauzer Zeeva, 8, recently qualified for the 2026 Crufts dog show — considered to be the world’s largest dog show — after giving a ranking performance at the Three Counties Championship in June, per The Times. If she competes at Crufts, scheduled for March 2026, Caitlyn will become one of the youngest competitors in the event’s history.
Though she’s only 3, Caitlyn has spent her whole life surrounded by dogs and dog shows. Her first word was “doggy,” her mother, Lydia Mellor, told The Times. Showing dogs runs in the family; Lydia began showing dogs herself at the age of 10.
Caitlyn still managed to be an early bloomer among her animal-loving family, attending her first dog show just 8 weeks after she was born. By age 2, she was saying she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
“She decided she didn’t want Mummy in the ring with her and has been competing by herself with people 20 or 30 years older,” Lydia said of her daughter’s fire solo showing efforts at age 3.
The toddler and her Miniature Schnauzer, who compete for the Lyzahro kennel, train for the dog shows — or “doggy clap,” as Caitlyn calls them, referencing the frequent applause she gets at dog events — in a grassy area near their home in Groesffordd, Wales.
“I like running around with her,” Caitlyn told BBC about her work with Zeeva.
Zeeva is one of four Miniature Schnauzers that belong to the Mellor family. She usually sleeps in Caitlyn’s bed and attends a dog show with the toddler once a month.
Although the competitions are becoming bigger and more important, Lydia insists on keeping Caitlyn and Zeeva’s training schedule light, so it remains enjoyable for everyone.
At shows, Caitlyn is confident, her mother said and is met with kindness and support from adult handlers. The older competitors “keep an eye on her” and guide Caitlyn around if she gets lost, her mother added.
“Caitlyn is so excited and doesn’t have any nerves. It’s something she enjoys,” Lydia said. “So many adults get wound up at shows worrying about being best in breed. She’s happy coming second or third, she’s just having fun with her dog.”
It’s the pink-and-white houndstooth print (hound!) sweater-skirt set on little Caitlyn that’s doing me in, folks. Well, that and a photo the BBC ran of Caitlyn in said outfit, in the act of showing Zeeva while the pooch presents on a table — they had to bring in a step stool for Caitlyn to stand on!! This whole story is so utterly delightful. In the interviews Caitlyn’s mum has given to the BBC and The Times, she stressed that they’re keeping the training schedule really light for Caitlyn, so that it keeps on being purely fun for her. Lydia Mellor also noted that Caitlyn has so far demonstrated excellent sportswomanship at shows — or, excuse me, “Doggy claps,” which is a much better name! — shaking hands with judges and her fellow handlers, not intimidated one bit by the decades between them. I feel like Caitlyn is the Welsh Eloise, and please note that I consider likening a young lady to Eloise to be among the highest compliments one can give. Can’t wait to see Caitlyn and Zeeva put their best paws forward next March!
3-Year-Old Set to Become One of the Youngest Dog Handlers to Ever Compete at the World's Largest Dog Show https://t.co/zIL15ERxLv
— People (@people) July 15, 2025
I absolutely love random niche events where kids end up competing against adults- good for them!
While his peers were all in age-bracketed karting competitions, there is a fantastic pic of F1 driver Oscar Piastri aged 5-6 on the top podium with a hot pink remote controlled car with two full grown adult men at 2nd and 3rd place- makes me laugh every time!
Go Caitlyn and Zeeva! May they sweep all the honors at the show! I adore happy feel good stories like this. Thank you for bringing it to our attention! 🙂
The dog is older, by a mile, than she is… 😂
This cute story is exactly the kind of fluff I need more of right now, because… global circumstances.
Right?
Fingers crossed for Caitlyn and Zeeva, eventually.
Thanks, Kismet!
What a nice jolt of adorableness! I love the way that Caitlyn is rocking her pink houndstooth suit!
Wishing Caitlyn and Zeeva much joy and success!