The Kennel Club Timeline (1900s)

The Kennel Club saw great success in the 1900s including the formation of The Kennel Club Charitable Trust and the acquirement of Crufts dog show.

1900

The Kennel Club moves to 26 Southampton Street. 

First definitive use of the term Challenge Certificate to describe the awards needed to earn Champion status.

1901

Mrs Ellen Chapman becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch. 

The Prince of Wales is crowned H.M. King Edward VII and remains Patron of The Kennel Club.

1902

The Kennel Club moves to 7 Grafton Street.

Rules on tampering with a dog’s appearance in any way are tightened and stress on the natural appearance of the dog is paramount. 

1904

An important year for The Kennel Club in which, at an Extraordinary General Meeting, all rules are comprehensively reviewed and restated, with main points as follows:  

  • All dogs must be registered to show 
  • Only shows licensed under The Kennel Club rules are valid 
  • If a dog competed at a non-Kennel Club show it is barred from all Kennel Club shows.   
  • Dogs must earn three CCs from three different judges to gain the title of Champion.   

This consolidates The Kennel Club’s exclusive governance of pedigree dog registrations, dog showing and other competitive canine activities.

1904

The first time the full list of Kennel Club breeds with descriptions is published in The Dog Owner’s Annual. 

Some devolved powers given to the Scottish Kennel Club. 

H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught becomes President of The Kennel Club.

1905

Mrs Mary Oliphant becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch. 

Kennel Club Secretary Edward Jacquet publishes The Kennel Club: a history and record of its work, which is a comprehensive account of The Kennel Club’s first 30 years of operation. 

Noted veterinary surgeon, Mr. A J Sewell joins The Kennel Club General Committee for the first time as Honorary Veterinary Surgeon. 

The Kennel Club rules require vet examinations at dog shows. 

1909

Rapid increase in licensed show numbers from 316 in 1900 to 906 by 1909.

1910

H.M. King George V becomes Patron of The Kennel Club.

1910-1911

The Kennel Club moves to temporary offices at Curzon House, Regents House and then 2 Savile Row.

1914

The Kennel Club enters into reciprocal agreement with the American Kennel Club, the first such agreement with an overseas Kennel Club.

1916

Mrs Gwendoline Romilly becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch.

Kennel Club moves to 84 Piccadilly where it remains for 44 years. This was the corner of Clarges St.

1915-1919

World War One curtails activities. Registrations and competitive showing ceases from 1917-1919. 475 charity shows are held and The Kennel Club Ambulance Car Fund raised money to buy seven ambulances.

1920

Mr Mark Beaufoy becomes Chairman.

1922

Mr Francis Redmond becomes Chairman. 

The Rt. Hon. Lorna Countess Howe becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch. 

The Kennel Club campaigns for better conditions for dogs travelling by train, which at the time were muzzled and crated. 

1925

Mr William McCandlish becomes Chairman.

1926

Rules and Regulations for Alsatian Wolf Dog Working Trials are approved by The Kennel Club. 

Judges are barred from judging dogs that they have bred or owned. 

The Kennel Club enters into reciprocal agreement with the Irish Kennel Club. 

Breeds must have over 1000 registrations to be permitted to hold a licenced show.

1928

Dogs with hearing defects banned from competition.

1930

The Kennel Club makes a resolution advising breed clubs to discourage the breeding of dogs with inverted eyelids with the aim of eliminating this hereditary condition.

1933

Mr A Cornish-Bowden MRCVS is appointed Kennel Club Honorary Veterinary Surgeon.

1934

Women permitted to be delegates of registered societies.

1935

Mr George Howlett becomes Chairman. 

H.M. King Edward VIII becomes Patron of The Kennel Club (before abdication). 

H.M. King George VI becomes Patron of The Kennel Club. 

Working Trials Championship qualifications and titles appear in the Stud Book and other official documents.   

Hip Dysplasia first reported. 

New breeds need 150 registrations over a maximum four year period to be eligible for recognition.

1937

Mr Arthur Croxton Smith O.B.E. becomes Chairman.

1938

Final Kennel Club Show held – it then ceased due to the War and was folded into the Crufts Show post-war.

1939

Following Charles Cruft’s death in 1938, his wife Emma runs the show in 1939. This is the final Crufts under family management.

1939/45

World War Two curtails activities. 84 Piccadilly badly affected by air raids.

1942

The Kennel Club acquires rights to Crufts Show from Emma Cruft.

1946

First Gundog Working Test held by United Retriever Club.

1947

H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester becomes President of The Kennel Club.

1948

Air Commodore John Allan Cecil-Wright AFC becomes Chairman. 

Miss Marion Keyte-Perry becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch. 

The first Crufts Show is run by The Kennel Club. The longstanding Kennel Club Show does not return after World War Two – effectively it merges with Crufts. Crufts is held at Olympia. 

1949

Introduction of mate testing in Irish Setters for hereditary night blindness.

1950

Crufts is televised for the first time by the BBC, providing The Kennel Club with the opportunity of showcasing its important work for dogs

1951

Championship Obedience Certificates are introduced.

1952

H.M Queen Elizabeth II becomes Patron of The Kennel Club.

1955

First Kennel Club Championship Obedience event held at Crufts.

1957

The Kennel Club moves to 1-4 (later 1-5) Clarges Street where it remains until 2015.

1963

Miss Clara Bowring becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch.

1965

The Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association launch a scheme to screen for hip dysplasia in dogs. Other joint screening programmes follow.

1966

BVA/Kennel Club Eye Scheme for control of PRA in Elkhounds. 

BVA/Kennel Club hip dysplasia results first published in The Kennel Gazette.

1969

Dr Eleanor Frankling M.A becomes Chairman of the Ladies Branch.

Her Majesty The Queen visits Crufts.

BVA/Kennel Club Eye Scheme for Hereditary Caratacts for Golden Retrievers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Boston Terriers, Afghan Hounds, and American Cocker Spaniels.

1971

Mrs W (Eve) Bentick becomes final Chairman of the Ladies Branch which is abolished in 1979.

1973

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Hamilton Glyn, 9th Baronet OBE, TD, DL becomes Chairman. 

Her Majesty visits The Kennel Club at Clarges Street on the occasion of the Club’s centenary.

The Kennel Club celebrates 100 years with a member’s banquet at the Guildhall, London.

1975

First Kennel Club Working Trials held at Enfield on 25th October, organised by ASPADS, the Alsatian, Sheep, Police and Army Dog Society

1976

Leonard Pagliero OBE becomes Chairman.

Air Commodore John Allan Cecil-Wright AFC becomes President of the Kennel Club.

1978

Agility first demonstrated at Crufts.

World Conference of Kennel Clubs takes place - 6th-9th Feb. Hosted by the Kennel Club at the Europa Hotel, Grosvenor Square.

BVA/GSDIF (German Shepherd Dog Improvement Foundation) trial scheme grading introduced – German Shepherd Dogs were later followed by Clumber Spaniels, Otterhounds and Newfoundlands.

1979

The Kennel Club introduces rules and regulations for Agility Tests.

The Kennel Club admits ladies as full members after a legal case citing equality issues. The legal bill was footed by Mrs. Florence Nagle who had previously fought the Jockey Club to become the first woman to have a trainer’s licence.

Crufts moves from Olympia to Earl’s Court.

1981

John MacDougall, M.D., F.R.C.S.Ed becomes Chairman.

The Kennel Club purchases its first computer and starts moving registrations records. From 1984 onwards, all registration records are held on a database. This is not retrospective – older records are held in hard copy. 

BVA/Kennel Club Eye Scheme covers all conditions.

1982

First Kennel Club guidelines about dogs being left in cars at shows.  

H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent becomes President of The Kennel Club.

1983

Hip Dysplasia grading first published in The Kennel Gazette.

1985

The Kennel Club Junior Organisation (KCJO, now the Young Kennel Club) is founded. 

The modern Kennel Club Library is founded.

1986

The Kennel Club starts appraisal of breed standards for impact on health and welfare. 

1987

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust is formed. Since its inception £11 million has been donated to help improve the support, health and welfare of dogs.

1990

Kennel Club / BSAVA Scientific Committee is set up. 

Heelwork to Music takes place at Crufts for the first time.

1991

Crufts moves to The NEC, Birmingham celebrating its record breaking centenary show. 

The Kennel Club publishes all hip score results in the Breed Record Supplement.

1992

The Good Citizen Dog Scheme is set up. Since its inception over 306,000 dogs have taken the bronze test.  

The Kennel Club introduces Petlog, one of the largest databases for microchipped animals in the UK.  

Mary Ray put on the first of her famously spectacular Heelwork to Music displays at Crufts and introduced this activity to a mass audience.

1995

Roger French becomes Chief Executive.

1996

Mr Peter James MBE becomes Chairman. 

Discover Dogs is held at Earls Court 2 for the first time in London. 

Rugby Dog Club, the historic home of Heelwork to Music holds its first Heelwork to Music competition.

1997

First Kennel Club Gundog Working Test held at Tatton Park

1998

BVA Elbow Scheme is supported by The Kennel Club.

1999

The Kennel Club Registration Department is moved out to rented accommodation in Aylesbury.  

The publication, Treasures of The Kennel Club goes to print.