Ambassador Spotlight: Lydia Frey and Her Dogs Train Year-Round with ororo
For professional dog handler Lydia Frey, the journey into the world of competitive dog showing started early and with a dream.
Lydia’s love for dog showing began while watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on television.
At just nine years old, Lydia received her first show dog as a birthday present. What began as a fun activity quickly turned into a lifelong passion. By age twelve, she was regularly attending dog shows and had already bred her first litter.
Today, Lydia continues to train, handle, and compete at the highest levels of the sport, including the legendary Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which is one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world. As a proud partner of WKC, ororo is honored to support handlers like Lydia by helping them stay warm, focused, and ready to perform on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Ahead of WKC's 150th event, ororo supported handlers across the country by providing heating apparel....Lydia was one of those handlers that had a first look into our Westminster Kennel Club heated collection, including softshell styles, quilted and puffer down vests, and cozy sweater fleece jackets.
From Watching Westminster to Winning It
That fascination soon turned into reality.
At just fourteen years old, Lydia attended Westminster for the first time. One year later, she qualified to compete in Junior Showmanship and made history.
In 2015, Lydia won Best Junior Handler at Westminster with her Bedlington Terrier, Tony.
The moment changed everything.
“Winning Best Junior Handler at Westminster forever changed my handling career,” Lydia says. “There is nothing like competing there. The show is the very best in the USA and one of the best in the world. Win or lose, showing at Westminster is always memorable.”
A Life Built Around Dogs
Life as a dog handler revolves around dedication, patience, and time spent with the dogs, often outdoors.
Lydia’s typical day starts early.
Before work, the dogs head outside for morning exercise. After work, Lydia returns home to train, engage, and spend time with them. Much of her free time is devoted to helping her dogs develop the skills needed to succeed in the show ring.
As a handler, Lydia works with dogs on:
- Standing properly
- Maintaining focus on the handler
- Moving in different patterns
- Practicing on different surfaces
To Lydia, making sure the dogs enjoy the experience is just as important as the training technique.
“Dogs that don’t enjoy showing won’t be successful long term,” Lydia explains. “It’s my job to make sure they’re prepared and that they love the activity.”
Training Through Midwest Winters
Living in the Midwest means Lydia faces long, cold winters. But that doesn’t stop her from dog training.
“If the sun is out, we try to get outside even in freezing temperatures,” Lydia said.
Cold and wind can make training more difficult. Dogs must stay comfortable and focused, and handlers need the mobility and warmth to stay engaged with their dogs.
This is where heated apparel makes a difference!
“Outdoor activity is a huge part of keeping dogs physically fit and mentally happy,” Lydia said. "In cold weather, ororo products keep us outside comfortably for longer so we can make the most of our time."
Discovering ororo
Before Lydia was using heated apparel, her mother, a horse trainer, was already using ororo gear to stay warm while outdoors.
“She gifted me my first vest, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” Lydia said. “When I first started using ororo apparel, I was impressed with how warm it was and how versatile the pieces were..I could prepare for a full day outside without worrying about temperature changes.”
For someone whose job requires spending hours outdoors, reliability and product performance are key.
A Vest That Goes Everywhere
Today, Lydia said she practically lives in her heated vests. They are easy to layer, comfortable for daily life, and functional for working with dogs.
“I often wear them while training and even while showing, depending on the temperature,” she said.
During especially cold events, layering heated apparel under show clothing can make a huge difference.
“There have been several shows recently where I was freezing while showing,” Lydia said. “Layering my vest with my show clothes kept me comfortable and warm. It really made the experience that much better.”
Packing Essentials for Dog Shows
Traveling to dog shows requires preparation for every possible scenario, including the weather. For Lydia, heated gear is always part of her travel kit.
“I keep an ororo product with me at all times when I’m on the road,” she said.
From early morning show setups to cold outdoor rings, having the ability to warm up instantly can make long competition days far more manageable.
“The reliability of ororo products makes them a staple in my packing essentials,” Lydia continued.
Lydia’s Favorite Gear: River Ridge 3-in-1 Jacket
While Lydia relies on several pieces, one stands out as her favorite. The River Ridge 3-in-1 heated jacket has become her go-to travel companion.
“It handles wind, wet weather, and can separate into multiple pieces,” Lydia explains. “I can pack this jacket for any trip and know I’m covered for any conditions.”
Battery performance is another key factor.
“Strong battery life is very important because I often don’t have access to outlets throughout the day,” Lydia said. “I need to know the battery will last. And ororo’s does!”
Keeping Dogs Comfortable Too
The dogs benefit as well. With cold Midwest winters, staying warm is important for both handlers and their canine partners.
“Dog sports happen year-round, and my dogs want to be outside all year,” Lydia said.
ororo’s heated dog vests help make that possible.
“With the dog jackets, I can keep my pups comfortable even in freezing conditions. The dogs and I staying active is key to our happiness and success.”
Advice for Future Dog Handlers
For anyone dreaming of entering the world of dog showing, Lydia offers simple but valuable advice.
“Do your research and find a breeder willing to work with you and invest time into you and your dog. You won’t be an overnight success. Be willing to learn, take advice, and enjoy the process,” she said.
And most importantly, remember why you started.
“For the love of dogs.”
Be sure to check out ororo’s Heated Dog Vests and the Westminster Kennel Club Collection to stay warm with you and your furry friend!
