Whether it’s due to grooming, length of coat, or basic structure, these fine dogs from the past would be hard pressed to replicate their wins today.
Anon. (1897, May 22). Some notable dogs. Country Life Illustrated, pp. 544-546.Vanity Fair, January 1917Vanity Fair, May 1917Vanity Fair, October 1917House Beautiful, August 1934House Beautiful, October 1934Ch. Amanullah of Kandahar, a cream colored Afghan hound, owned by Mrs. Amelia E. White. Source: Country Life and the Sportsman, February 1939Ch. Biene von Elbe Bogen se Sumbula, a boxer. Source: Country Life and the Sportsman, February 1939Country Life and the Sportsman, February 1939
This piece on barbering dogs for the show ring appeared in the July 27, 1901 issue of The Breeder and Sportsman:
An ad in the Catalogue of dog, cat and pet stock show: Panama-Pacific International Exposition, November 29, 30, December 1, 1915. Note the differences between this airedale and the one in the first photo, both from the UK, almost 20 years apart.Vanity Fair, September 1916Country Life & the Sportsman, May 1938
2 thoughts on “Vintage Show Dogs Who Would Not Be Able to Win Today”
Nice to see these more normal looking dogs. Especially the German Shepherd without the deformed back and hind legs, and the Boxer with a more normal nose. They are beautiful dogs, and no doubt healthier than today’s specimens. In Europe, and other countries, there is a move towards keeping dogs more normal looking, forbidding tail docking and ear cropping. In the EU, they are also discouraging inbreeding and breeding for extreme features which endanger the health of the dog. It’s about time. Dogs should not need surgery to breathe properly or even to be born. I hope this trend keeps up.
Agreed. If the AKC truly wants to promote purebred dogs as pets, it should consider the enormous gap between what dogs are rewarded in its shows and what dogs make for good pets – dogs with manageable coats, sound structure, able to live an average dog lifespan, etc.
YesBiscuit! 
Nice to see these more normal looking dogs. Especially the German Shepherd without the deformed back and hind legs, and the Boxer with a more normal nose. They are beautiful dogs, and no doubt healthier than today’s specimens. In Europe, and other countries, there is a move towards keeping dogs more normal looking, forbidding tail docking and ear cropping. In the EU, they are also discouraging inbreeding and breeding for extreme features which endanger the health of the dog. It’s about time. Dogs should not need surgery to breathe properly or even to be born. I hope this trend keeps up.
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Agreed. If the AKC truly wants to promote purebred dogs as pets, it should consider the enormous gap between what dogs are rewarded in its shows and what dogs make for good pets – dogs with manageable coats, sound structure, able to live an average dog lifespan, etc.
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