Westminster: May 8-10…1877

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84 – May, 2023

By Caroline Coile

Westminster in May? Why, it’s unheard of! What about tradition? What about history? What about…the first-ever Westminster Kennel Club dog show? Because it was held May 8-10, 1877, exactly 147 years to the day before this year’s event May 8-10, 2023. So no, May is not unheard of. But other than the date, there’s not a lot the two shows have in common.

The Westminster Kennel Club dog show wasn’t always called that. The first show was called the “First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs Given Under the Auspices of the Westminster Kennel Club.”

The entry was smaller. But it was still larger than today’s median show size. With 1201 dogs entered, it would be a respectable show even today. It eventually swelled to more than 3,000 before lack of spec forced the club to first cancel classes such as Team and then Brace, and then to impose numerical or qualification limits.

Celebrity dogs got lots of attention. Special attractions at the first show included Nellie, a two-legged dog, two Staghounds from General Custer’s pack, two Deerhounds valued at $50,000 each bred by the Queen of England, and a Setter named Rover who Stonehenge had selected to illustrate his new volume of Dogs of the British Isles. Later, in 1889, a Siberian Wolfhound (what we call Borzoi) bred by the Czar of Russia was entered; and the following year, a Russian Wolfhound (also Borzoi) with the Emperor of Russia listed as owner. Celebrity owners, including Nelly Bly, Lou Gehrig, as well as several more recent television and movie stars, have always taken a back seat to more famous canine celebrities.

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84 – May, 2023

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