No doubt people have been bragging about their dogs since the earliest days of domestication. One can imagine prehistoric dog owners gathering to admire the relative merits of their furry friends, though the sheen of a dog's coat or the shape of its tail likely paled in comparison to its ability to hunt game or keep the sheep in line. We have no record of these ancient dog competitions, but do know that informal dog shows were bing held in pubs and clubs across England prior to the first official show in 1859.

On June 28, 1859 — a bright summer day in the United Kingdom — a committee of local hunters held the world's first official dog show in the town of Newcastle upon Tyne. This show was limited to pointers and setters, but a second show held in November of that year in the town of Birmingham allowed spaniels. This second show, held in one of the galleries of the Horse and Carriage Repository, included around 80 dogs in 14 classes. In 1860, the Birmingham show welcomed hounds for the first time. Amazingly, the National Dog Show Birmingham continues to be held to this day and is considered the world's oldest surviving dog show.

"History of Dog Shows" Continued »