The History of The Canadian Kennel Club

(1880-1915)
By the 1880s, firm interest in purebred dogs in Canada was indicated by a proliferation of dog shows held in Saint John, Montreal, Toronto, and London and in Manitoba. With the formation of the American Kennel Club in 1884, these shows were held under AKC rules, and purebred dogs were registered with that club. By 1887 it seemed obvious that a national Canadian club was needed and the following year, at a general meeting held at Tecumseh House in London, Ontario, The Canadian Kennel Club was formed. The purposes of the club were to promote the breeding and exhibiting of "thoroughbred" dogs in Canada, to formulate rules for the governing of dog shows, to recommend suitable judges, and to open a registry for purebred dogs.

Richard Gibson of Delaware, Ontario was the President and C. A. Stone of London was the Secretary. Two of the Vice-Presidents came from Quebec and one from Winnipeg. By 1889, the fledging Club had its own official publication. The Kennel Gazette, which was printed as a supplement to The Canadian Poultry Review.

A close relationship developed between the AKC and CKC. The American Kennel Club agreed to allow dogs to be exhibited on both sides of the border without requiring registration in both national stud books. Both clubs would uphold suspensions and expulsions of members. The AKC cancelled the first part of this arrangement in 1894, but continued to
recognize CKC suspensions and expulsions.

In the first year, membership rose from fourteen to seventy, and registrations reached 350. Registrations were free to members, and only members could register dogs with the Club. The first dog registered was the Club Secretary's winning English Setter, Forest Fern. By 1891, there were 847 registrations. That same year, five new clubs were formed and held shows at Montreal, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, and Hamilton. Entries at these shows were large, 733 at Toronto in 1892, and individual kennels entered quite a number of dogs (for example, twenty-four came from one breeder in Boston).

By 1896, the By-Laws, Constitution, and Dog Show Rules had been refined. At this time numbered armbands for exhibitors were introduced to identify dogs to the judges. Championships were awarded somewhat differently from today. A dog had to win four Winners classes two of which were at shows having 400 or more entries, or failing that, had to have won $500 in cash prizes. The regions of British Columbia and Manitoba were allowed lower limits of 200 entries or $300 in prizes. The previous system had been modelled on the Challenge Certificate system, which was then in use in the States. Provisions were made for those dogs which had already acquired certificates to be credited towards their championship.

A number of "firsts" occurred around the turn of the century. The first Field Trial under CKC rules was held near Chatham in 1889 with a total of twenty-three entries, six coming from Michigan. Listing fees for shows were adopted, and the members were to receive the Gazette and Stud Book as part of their membership fee. Women members were allowed to speak at meetings in 1903. That same year saw the first dog show with 1000 entries held at Toronto. At that time, major entries came from St. Bernards, Bloodhounds, Great Danes, Russian Wolfhounds, English Pointers, English Setters, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Bulldogs, and Bull Terriers. The largest entries came from Boston Terriers, Fox Terriers, and Irish Terriers. Toy Spaniels were right up at the top as well.

The revisions to the organization of the Club in 1906 brought it closer to what we know. There was a President, First and Second Vice President, and one Vice President from each province in the same year, the revision of the Dog Show Rules introduced the "ten points under the two judges system" for awarding championships. At the same time, Canada was divided into two regions at Port Arthur, with the number of dogs needed for point wins fewer in the west. Points were decided on the total number of dogs benched in the show rather than entered in the breed. It is interesting to note that the breeds recognized included Chinese Crested and the Russian Owtchar (Sheep Dog).

It would seem that by the time the name of the official publication was changed to Kennel and Bench in 1912, the CKC was well established.

In April 1915, the CKC was incorporated under the Live Stock Pedigree Act. It was clear that The Canadian Kennel Club would survive and prosper.