The Best Of The Best Dog Show Award
When it comes to the best dog show award, the Best in Show award that is given at the Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a most prestigious dog show award that can be given a champion dog. The dogs that receive the Best in Show award, at the Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, must be champions already before they enter the Westminster competitions.
Inspired By Pointers And Setters
Back in 1876, sportsmen who owned primarily Pointer and Setters formed The Westminster Kennel Club. Since the group met at New York's West Minster Hotel, the group took its name from the meeting place. The goal of the kennel club was to raise awareness and appreciation for dogs so that the breeds could be improved.
To further their goals, the Westminster Kennel Club's First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs was held at Gilmore Gardens on Madison Avenue in 1877. The Gilmore Gardens was the name for the garden area, which would later be transformed into Madison Square Gardens.
First Westminster Dog Show In 1877
That first dog show in 1877 was extended to four days, instead of the planned three, because of the great public interest. The Westminster Dog Show continues to be held in the same area since then with few exceptions. Madison Square Garden has been the home of the Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show ever since, with only a few exceptions.
The show is so popular and well known because the dogs that compete for the dog show awards must be "titled champions only". This means that the dog who wins the Best of Show award is the best of the best dogs. The Best in Show award began to be awarded in 1907. Owners will bring their dogs from around the world to compete for these dog show awards.
There have been great dogs that have been awarded the Best in Show awards over the years. Only one dog has won the Best in Show award three times and that was a Smooth Fox Terrier bitch named Ch. Warren Remedy in 1907, 1908 and 1909. Terriers have won the Best in Show award thirteen times, more than any other breed.
Royalty Owned Dogs At The Show
The Westminster Dog Show has attracted royal owners to enter their dogs in the show. Two deerhounds that had been bred by the Queen of England herself were entered in the Westminster Dog Show in the late 1800s. A Siberian Wolfhound bred by the Czar of Russia was entered and the next year, 1890, a Russian Wolfhound owned by the Emperor of Germany was entered in the competitions at Westminster Dog Show.
Out of all the marvelous canine champions, who enter the Westminster Dog Show, only one dog will get the top dog show award. That dog show award is the most coveted dog show award in the world of dog shows.
