Quote:
Originally Posted by gemy  I thought it was in Queen Victoria's time, that dog shows or the sport of breeding and showing began. I too either read or saw a special on that, but for the life of me, can't put my hands on the book/books.
And it was definitely mentioned it was by the rich and or titled classes.
I'll see if I can find an article on that. |
Here you go.
History of the Kennel Club
15-Jun-06
http://www.yorkietalk.com/download/5...istbwbuild.jpgThe middle of the 19th Century found the prosperous and leisured Victorians with a passion for exhibitions and 'instructive entertainment'. The development of the railways brought the whole country within reach of the Great Exhibition of 1851, housed in what was to become the Crystal Palace, and during the years that followed, many exhibitions of widely varying character were held.
The first organised dog show was held in the Town Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne on the 28th and 29th June 1859. The Show was organised by Messrs. Shorthouse and Page at the suggestion of Mr R Brailsford and there were sixty entries of Pointers and Setters. Only one class was held for each breed at these early shows and the dogs were unidentified except for their kennel names. Reference to the old catalogues reveals Mr Murrel's 'Spot', competing against Mr Brown's 'Venus' for a prize of 22 shillings. By 1870 it was decided that a controlling body was necessary to legislate in canine matters and a Mr S E Shirley, MP, from Warwickshire, called together the National Dog Club Committee and a discussion ensued which resulted in twelve gentlemen meeting at No 2 Albert Mansions, Victoria Street, London, on 4th April 1873, and this meeting marked the founding of the Kennel Club.
One of the earliest undertakings of the newly formed Kennel Club was the compilation of a Stud Book. The Editor, Mr Frank C S Pearce, was the son of Revd. Thomas Pearce, of the well-known 'Idstone' kennel and contributor to 'The Field' publication.
The first volume of the Stud Book contained the records of shows from 1859-73. The Kennel Club Calendar was also compiled in the same year and lists two shows each year for the next ten years.