The Kennel Club is inviting dogs and their owners along to the Isle of Dogs on Saturday 18 July to celebrate 150 years of the great British tradition of dog showing - and to meet and greet British breeds on the brink of extinction. The event is part of the month long Best of British Festival being held at West India Quay.

The day of doggy delights will include a ‘have a go’ ring – where visitors and their dogs (crossbreed or pedigree) will be invited to try their hands, and paws, at a Companion Dog Show, which will have classes such as Waggiest Tail, Glossiest Coat and Best British Pedigree. A prerequisite of being a good show dog is being a well behaved dog with a good temperament, so there will also be the first level of testing for the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, to test dogs’ obedience credentials.

A vet and other experts will also be on hand to talk to dog lovers about how dog and owner can keep active and healthy together. The day is being organised to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of dog showing and the way it has benefited the health and wellbeing of pedigree dogs.

One of the many benefits of dog shows is the way that they help to raise the profile of British breeds, which are deemed at risk of extinction. That is why there will also be a rare opportunity for visitors to meet a range of British breeds at the event, which are on the Kennel Club’s vulnerable native breeds list because they number less than 300 new puppy registrations each year. The breeds will be accompanied by handlers dressed in historic costumes, associated with the breeds. These will include Queen Victoria’s Rat Catcher, Jack Black, and his Manchester Terrier, and Lancashire Heelers alongside nineteenth century farmer’s wives.

Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club, said: “The event promises to be a really fun day out for dog lovers and owners. People will have the chance to get a feel for showing with their own dogs in the fun ‘have a go’ ring and to see if it’s something that they would like to take up as a hobby in the future.

“The event is an important part of the Kennel Club’s celebration of 150 years of dog shows, which are not only a much-loved British tradition but also pivotal to improving the health of the pedigree dogs that we all love so dearly.

“The benefits of dog shows not only include the opportunity to promote vulnerable breeds, which will be at the event, but also to encourage and reward the breeding of healthy, happy dogs, by making sure that these are the only ones that go home with prizes. Without dog shows there would be less incentive to breed healthy dogs, no forum to monitor whether this is being done and no platform to educate the breeders and owners of the future.

“We are sure that people will have lots of questions so we have a range of experts on hand to discuss how dog lovers can buy the right dog for them, enjoy more activities with their dogs and how they can keep their dog in the best of health throughout its life.”

Paul Keevil, campaigner for British vulnerable breeds, added: “We are delighted to be part of the Kennel Club’s celebration of 150 years of dog shows and that people will have the chance to meet British vulnerable breeds and to see what wonderful characters they really are.

“Dog shows are not only a well-loved part of our British heritage but also a great opportunity to raise the profile of these lesser known British breeds, which need to be protected for future generations to enjoy. The costumed handlers will be around on the day to talk to dog lovers and to help them discover whether one of these breeds would be suitable for their lifestyle.”

Entries for the dog show will cost £1 per dog and all money raised will be given to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which funds research into the understanding and prevention of dog diseases and distributes money to dog re-homing charities and assistance dog charities.

The Best of British Festival is running from 17 June to 19 July at West India Quay. Good Citizen Dog Scheme Testing will begin at 11.00 am until 1.00pm and 2.30pm to 3.30pm. People can enter their dog for the dog show between 1.00 pm and 2.30pm. The event will close at 4.00pm.

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