12 Dog Shows and Doggy People 



Some Doggy People 



THE great amount of work, detail, care, and attention required 

 to carry out all the arrangements in connection with even 

 moderately large shows have brought forward a class of men 

 who lay themselves out specially for this kind of business, and 

 amongst the early pioneers I may name Mr. George Beech, 

 so long honourably known as the able Secretary of the National 

 Dog Show of Sporting and other Dogs, held for such a number 

 of years. The particulars of its first show in 1860 are before 

 me as I write this ; but I think Mr. Beech's connection with it, 

 which is amongst the earliest actual shows held in this country, is 

 of later date. 



All who have been brought in contact with Mr. Beech will 

 know that he has been the life and soul of the Birmingham Dog 

 Shows, which, in spite of the keen competition inaugurated since 

 they were first started, still hold a good position in the 

 kennel world, particularly in their classes for sporting dogs, 

 which are often better than at many other large shows. 

 I think the first time I ever exhibited at these shows was in 

 1869, but have often shown and judged there since, taking many 

 classes, chiefly amongst the non-sporting division. 



I may say in passing I have never sought judging engagements, 

 or canvassed any secretary or committeemen in my life, and, strange 

 to say, commenced as a judge where most persons expect to leave 

 off at the Crystal Palace, at a Kennel Club Show, where I was 

 appointed to take " Bull-dogs and Dandies." And I shall never 

 forget the sensation when I found myself alone in the large 

 ring, surrounded by all the pick and flower of the Bull-dogs of 

 the day and their owners ! 



Being, luckily, at that time an active member of the Bull-dog 

 Club and keen on the breed, many were well known to me, so 

 I pulled myself together, got through my classes, which were 

 mostly strong and good, and then set to work to tackle the 

 Dandies, of which, I think, I had a record entry up to that time 



