Siba, a 3-year-old standard poodle also known as Stone Run Afternoon Tea, was named Best in Show at the 144th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Feb. 11, making history as the first female and first black poodle ever to win that show.

After nearly three years competing in dog shows, Siba will retire from competitions and get to experience life as a “normal” dog, according to owner Connie Unger, of Lehigh Township.

Unger runs Stone Run Standard Poodles. Her handler is Chrystal Clas, of Hanover Borough, York County, who handles dogs with her husband, Paul.

Siba got her first win when she was only 6 months old. That show, held in Macungie, was Siba’s first time showing in a formal ring with a handler - and she won for her breed. According to Unger, it caused quite a stir at the time for a young, first-time competitor to win.

The rest, as they say, is history. Siba won approximately 60 Best in Show titles in her career. She was named Best in Show Reserve in a Royal Canin show in Florida, was named Best Poodle in the Poodle Club of America National Show and is also a Canadian champion.

“It’s just been an unbelievable experience,” Unger said.

Siba is described as being extremely athletic by Unger, who noted Siba loves running on the beach and through fields, playing fetch and swimming. All of these activities will suit her well in retirement. According to Unger, Siba will have a 5-acre backyard and a 2-acre front yard to play in with the nine other female poodles Unger has at home.

Unger noted she will work on transitioning Siba into her new life of being a “regular” dog. She noted Siba loves competing and enjoys hearing the audience clap and cheer.

“She’s like an athlete,” Unger said.

According to Unger, poodles are very task-oriented dogs, and Siba viewed the competitions as her job. To assist with the transition into retirement, Unger will continue taking Siba to handling classes, so she does not feel neglected or as if she is not doing her job.

Unger is not yet sure how the dynamic will change in the house when Siba is living full time with the other dogs.

“I don’t know if she’ll be bossy or not,” Unger said. “She hasn’t had the chance.”

Siba will also continue to spend time in Hanover with the Clas family. Unger noted Siba bonded with the Clases’ son, Aiden. She reported they play games like peek-a-boo and that Aiden will even share his snacks with her.

“It will be almost like she has two homes,” Unger said.

According to Unger, Siba will not be able to fully settle into retirement until approximately May. She has charitable commitments and appearances she has to make as part of winning the Westminster Kennel Club show.

Due to these commitments, Siba will maintain her current hairstyle, called a continental clip, for now. Once she is finished with her commitments, Siba will sport a more maintainable groom. According to Unger, the continental clip is very time consuming to maintain.

In her retirement, Siba will also be bred with a former Westminster Kennel Club champion, like herself. Whisperwind’s On a Carousel, also known as Peter, won Best in Show in 1991. Unger said she compared Peter and Siba’s pedigrees, and they share a lineage going back five generations.

As important as pedigree is for breeding, Unger said she also cares deeply about the temperament of the dogs. She said she interviewed Peter’s owner, Linda Blackie, about Peter’s temperament before agreeing to breed.

“I think it’ll be an excellent breed,” Unger said.

According to Unger, Siba has a co-owner who lives in China. William Lee, who owns grooming schools and manufactures grooming supplies, sponsored Siba.

“He is absolutely wonderful,” Unger said. “He really is an excellent partner.”

Unger noted she will miss watching Siba compete.

“Watching her in the ring is one thing I will really miss,” she said.

She described Siba’s movements as breathtaking, smooth and flowing.

Unger noted she loves working with poodles because of their intelligence and agility. She said she has been raising standard poodles, both as show dogs and as family companions, for 20 years and earlier raised Komondors.