We Won!

The Louisville Kennel Club was selected as the Top Show of the Year for 2007 at the prestigious ProPlan Show Dogs of the Year event, presented by "Dogs in Review." The awards were given in New York City at the time of the Westminster Dog Show. Five clubs had been nominated for this honor. The others were: Atlanta Kennel Club, Detroit Kennel Club, Palm Beach County Dog Fanciers Association, and Waukesha Kennel Club. June Morris, a longstanding member of the Louisville Kennel Club and current member of its Board, accepted the award--an Oscar type statuette.

In describing the Louisville Kennel Club's activities, the program stated, "The Louisville Kennel Club has grown over the years to become one of the largest dog shows in the country. Members understand the needs of exhibitors and handlers and go out of their way to create a special show. The show provides judges' education seminars and special opportunities for breed clubs with many supported entries and specialties, supports a Take the Lead Gala, donates food and money to Kentucky Harvest, offers Judges Awards of Merit and, most importantly, the members have dedicated countless hours and funds to defeat breed-specific legislation that affects us all."

The award will be on display at the Club's March 14th and 16th shows to be held at the Kentucky Exhibition Center.

A Brief History of the Louisville Kennel Club

The Louisville Kennel Club was founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1894.  Its president, noted surgeon Dr. David W. Yandell, was a devotee of field sports and an excellent marksman.

In the autumn of 1883, a dog show was held on the site of the present-day St.  James Court as a feature of the Southern Exposition.  This was a World's-Fair-type event and was opened by United States President, Chester Arthur on August 1, 1883.  The ceremony was brilliantly lit with 4,600 lamps.  It is a very strong possibility, that this was the first dog show held under electricity.

The oldest catalog in the American Kennel Club's library, which lists a Louisville Kennel Club show, provides dates of May 9, 10, 11 and 12, 1894.  This event took place the Legion Armory located at 741 South Seventh Street.  Catalogs were priced at fifteen cents each.  The entry was comprised of thirty-three breeds plus miscellaneous.  All the breeds in competition are still common today, although there are some spelling changes.  In this era, a dog show was quite an event.  Travel was slow and difficult, mostly by train.  Judging moved along at a much slower pace, with shows lasting three and four days.

Records reveal that the Louisville Kennel Association staged its first all-breed show November 23 through November 27, 1915.  This club was elected a member of the American Kennel Club on February 24, 1916.

The Kentucky State Fair Dog Club, in conjunction with the State Fair, put on shows from the year 1918 through 1922.  At this time, the American Kennel Club was notified by the Fair Board that the Kentucky State Fair Dog Club had nothing to do with the Fair.  By request of the American Kennel Club, the name was changed to the Louisville Kennel Club and AKC was advised officially of the change on August 23, 1922.  Dog shows continued to be held at the State Fair through the early 1950's.

One or more shows have been held each year since 1915.  Two shows have been presented each year since 1952.  The Louisville Kennel Club celebrated its one hundredth Show on February 25, 1979 and it one-hundredth Anniversary Show on March 16, 1986.  The Club has gained national prominence with its Spring show, now always held in March.  The Louisville Kennel Club Show on March 20, 1994, with an entry of 5,363, claims the distinction of being the largest one-day dog show in United States history.  The members of the Louisville Kennel Club are dedicated to hosting quality competition events for purebred dogs.