CHAPTER III. 



EARLY SHOWS THE FIRST CLASSES FOR SHEEP DOGS 

 THE WINNERS THEREIN GREAT DOGS, "COCKIE," 

 " CHARLEMAGNE/' " RUTLAND," &c. NOTABLE 

 KENNELS HIGH PRICES. 



H E first dog show ever held took place at 

 Newcastle in 1859, but, being confined entirely 

 to pointers and setters, no class for sheep 

 dogs or collies was provided. Although this earliest of 

 exhibitions of the kind was on such a small scale, with a 

 matter of sixty entries, it proved so popular and successful 

 that it was followed by others in various parts of the 

 country, and in November of the same year the first 

 Birmingham show took place. That at Newcastle had 

 been held in June, and was chiefly organised by Mr. Richard 

 Brailsford, who likewise was responsible for the one in the 

 Midlands. The latter was again confined to sporting dogs. 

 Then in 1860 the prize-list came to be considerably 

 extended, non-sporting dogs were included, and here came 

 the first class for sheep dogs ever arranged for the show 

 bench, dogs and bitches of all strains competing together. 

 The farmer at that time knew little of the value of his 



