Bromeo, a Chinese Crested dog from Ocala, achieved a major milestone at the prestigious 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, clinching the coveted Best of Breed title. The event, held on February 10 and 11, 2025, saw the 21-month-old dog emerge victorious among 22 competitors, earning recognition at one of the oldest and most respected dog shows in the world.
Officially named CH Kaylen’s Sommer No Ordinary Bromance, Bromeo was born on May 12, 2023, and is the sole survivor of a litter of three. His remarkable survival story includes a dramatic rescue after his birth, where he was revived using CPR-style resuscitation techniques.
Lluvia Sommer, 24, co-owns Bromeo along with Kay Pieser of Kaylen’s Chinese Cresteds. Sommer, who also runs Sommer Standards & Chinese Crested, a breeding operation specializing in Standard Poodles and Chinese Cresteds, accompanied Bromeo at the event. Sommer’s business associate, Ella Hernandez, also joined the team at Westminster.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which dates back to 1877, features dogs competing within their breed to earn the title of Best of Breed/Variety. There are 212 recognized breeds and varieties in the competition, and Bromeo’s success was a testament to his exceptional conformation and movement, qualities carefully assessed by the judges.
In addition to his Westminster success, Bromeo’s accolades include Best of Winners at the American Chinese Crested Club Specialty Show and Best in Show at the International Dog Show in Treviso, Italy. Sommer described Bromeo’s breed as having an incredibly cheerful personality, noting that Chinese Crested dogs are always happy and never have a “bad day.”
The Chinese Crested breed, which dates back to the Han Dynasty, is known for its unique appearance. It exists in two varieties: hairless and powderpuff. The hairless variety is characterized by a warm, hairless body with a distinctive crest of hair on the head, plumes on the tail, and socks on the feet. The powderpuff variety, on the other hand, boasts a soft veil of long fur.
Sommer, a lifelong animal lover, graduated from the University of Florida in 2018 with a degree in animal science. She now resides in Ocala and works as a global logistics coordinator for a dog transportation service, Flight Nanny. Meanwhile, Pieser has an extensive 40-year history in the show dog industry, with over 20 years dedicated to breeding Chinese Cresteds.
Kaylen’s Chinese Cresteds has had remarkable success at Westminster, with six Best of Breed wins since 2017. Pieser expressed high hopes for Bromeo’s future, citing his potential not only in the show ring but as a future producer in the breeding world.
Bromeo’s triumph at Westminster continues a legacy of excellence for Kaylen’s Chinese Cresteds, cementing the dog’s place as one of the breed’s brightest stars.