9781422279304

Developing the breed Anew sport—dog showing—was emerging, with the first official show staged in Britain in 1859. The following year, the Birmingham show offered classes for Bulldogs, and so there was a new incentive to keep the breed alive. In 1864 the first Bulldog Club was formed, with 30 members. It lasted only three years, but that was long enough to write the first breed standard. In 1875, the Bulldog Club that still exists today in Britain was founded at the Blue Post Inn in London. It predates the Kennel Club, and has the distinction of being the oldest breed club in the world. Its main objective was to control the influx of Spanish Bulldogs, which were much larger, and to create a breed standard for a moderate size dog. The club held an annual show for Bulldogs in London, and also licensed shows in other cities. It issues a list of club judges, who were elected annually. The first Champions The breed’s first

champion was Old King Dick, owned by Jacob Lamphier of Shef- field. He was a red smut dog (a reddish brown base color with a black overlay), weighing 48 pounds (22 kg). He won his title at the Birming- ham show in 1865 and was a universal favorite with judges throughout his illustrious career. Another of Lamphier’s

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