Dogs Competition History

Dog competitions featured early in the history of the Show, the first recorded occurring in 1869.  In newspaper reports the ‘splendid collection of dogs’ was praised, and a tan terrier, weighing on three pounds, apparently attracted much attention.  Breeds listed as classes that year were: Bloodhounds, Newfoundlands, Retrievers, Pointers, Setters, Spaniels, King Charles Spaniels, Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Kangaroo Dogs, Skye Terriers, English Terriers, Terriers, Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, Sheepdogs, St Bernards and Beagles.

The RAS has a long association with wider canine affairs in NSW. From 1919 the RAS were strongly linked to the Kennel Association of NSW, adopting their rules for the Easter Show and insisting on the registration of all dogs with the Association as a condition of entry.

In 1923 the RAS took over the Association’s clerical work and the keeping of the register.  The Kennel Association functioned until at least 1935, however, the conditions surrounding its ultimate demise are unclear. 

The RAS Kennel Club (later known as RAS Kennel Control) then became the premier canine organisation in NSW. Established in 1948, it unified the dog world and saw to the administration around registration and the classification of purebred dogs, improving processes for both along the way.  In 1988 RAS Kennel Control changed its name to the NSW Canine Council in preparation for separation from the RAS in 1989, whereupon it resumed all the governance duties formerly undertaken by the RAS.  Today it is known as DOGS NSW.

The Dog Pavilion (Howie Complex) at Sydney Showground was designed specifically for the showing of dogs. It can house more than 600 dogs and can accommodate all breeds. The pavilion seats around 2,000 spectators and judging takes place on three outdoor lawns.

 Some historic facts

• The first sheepdog trials were held in 1879.
• In 1895 there was a class for “Any other variety dog or bitch”. Exhibitor Albert Andrews entered Jack, described as “a dingo caught at Bega”.
• In 1901 there was a class for “Dog biscuits, or foods best adapted for dogs”. It attracted two entries.
• The Best in Show award was introduced in 1931.
• The RAS also held dog competitions as part of the Annual or Sydney Sheep Show (1918-1974). These were predominantly sheepdog trials, however they occasionally included dog classes. The 1918 Annual Sheep Show included a Grand Dog Show, with classes for Kelpies, Cattle Dogs, Deerhounds and Airedale Terriers.

 Timeline for the introduction of different breeds

Note: many breeds have not appeared continuously at the Show since they were first introduced. This list records the first time they are mentioned in the catalogues.

1869      Bloodhounds, Newfoundlands, Retrievers, Pointers, Setters, Spaniels, King Charles Spaniels, Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Kangaroo Dogs, Skye Terriers, Rough-Haired Terriers, English Terriers, Bull Terriers, Terriers, Bulldogs, Sheepdogs, St Bernard, Beagles

1870      Foxhound (no entries), Fox Terriers (no entries), Mastiffs, Cattle Dogs, Toy Terriers, French Poodle, Manilla Poodles, Pugs

1871      Staghound

1872      Terrier Dogs broken hair and smooth hair

1873      English Toy Terrier

1875      Black and Tan Terriers

1877      Dandie Dinmont Terrier

1880 – No catalogue

1882      Chinese Dogs

1885      Curly Haired Retrievers

1886      Gordon Setters, English Setters

1888      Collies, Irish Setters, Sussex Setters

1889      Dachshund, Harrier

1894      Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Fox Terrier, Field Spaniel, Irish Terrier

1895      Deerhound, Great Dane/Boarhound, Australian Collie, Australian Fox Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier

1896-1898 – No catalogues

1899      Dalmatian, Airedale Terrier, Australian Terrier, Pomeranian

1900      Borzois, Wire-Haired Fox Terriers, Prince Charles Spaniel, Japanese Spaniel (think today known as Japanese Chin)

1901      Barb, Kelpies, Australian Silky Terriers (technically this class is called “Terrier, Australian, soft or silk haired” but the first official appearance under that name is 1960)

1905      Australian Bulldog

1907      Sydney Silky Terriers

1908      Chow Chow

1913      Griffon Bruxellois (no entries), Pekingese

1926      Alsatian Wolfdog (aka German Shepherd. First appears as ‘German Shepherd’ in 1954)

1928      Sealyham Terriers, Whippets

1929      Cairn Terriers, West Highland White Terriers

1931      Fox Terriers divided into Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire-Haired Fox Terriers.

1932      Borzois, Schnauzers.

1934      Samoyeds

1935      Irish Wolfhound, Labrador Retriever, Salukis, Welsh Corgi

1936      Afghan Hounds, Manchester Terriers

1938      Sporting Dogs class

1939      Kerry Blue Terriers

1940      Maltese

No Shows 1942-1946

1947      Old English Sheep Dogs

1948      English Springer Spaniels, Kelpie, plain Labrador

1949      Basenjis, Boxers, Maltese Terriers, Mastiffs, Shetland Sheep Dogs

1950      Boston Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, French Bull Dogs (no entries), Keeshond

1951      Border Collies, Miniature Dachshunds (and smooth ones), Lakeland Terriers, Miniature Poodles

1952      Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian Kelpies, Doberman Pinschers, gun dog trials, general stud book classes for each breed

1953      Papillon

1957      Dachshunds wire haired and long haired, Shih Tzu, Weimaraners

1958      Basset Hound, Chihuahaus, Retrievers divided into curly and golden, Welsh Corgis divided into Pembroke and Cardigan

1959      Retrievers divided into curly, golden, and Labrador

1961      Toy Poodles, Pinschers (miniature)

1962      Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Tibetan Apsos, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Dachshunds wire haired miniature

1963      Border Terriers (no entries), Miniature Schnauzers, Schipperkes, Norwegian Buhunds, Scottish Deerhounds

1964      Bedlington Terrier

1965      Clumber Spaniel

1966      Bull Terriers miniature, German Shorthaired Pointers, Irish Water Spaniels

1968      Chihuahuas smooth and long haired, Japanese, Pyrenean Mountain Dog

1969      Rhodesian Ridgebacks

1970      American Cocker Spaniel

1971      Finnish Spitz, Rottweilers

1972      Collies (Rough and Smooth), Elkhounds (also called Norwegian Elkhounds), Lhasa Apso

1973      Hungarian Puli

1974      Bearded Collie, British Bulldogs

1975      Hungarian Vizsla, Welsh Springer Spaniel

1976      Basset Griffon Vendeen, Groenendael, Japanese Chin (think originally called Japanese Spaniel and first appeared in 1900), Pharaoh Hound, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier

1977      Briard, Chinese Crested Dog, English Toy Terrier, Lowchen, Brittany Spaniel

1979      Alaskan Malamute, Berenese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Bouvier Des Flandres

1981      Japanese Spitz, Soft Coated Wheaten Terr, Stumpy Tailed Cattle Dog, Tervueren

1982      Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael), Belgian Shepherd (Tervueren), Chesapeake Bay Retriever, German Wirehaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer

1983      Siberian Husky

1984      Flat Coated Retriever, Large Munsterlander, Tibetan Mastiff

1985      Competition separated into groups now. Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Sussex Spaniel, Ibizan Hound, Swedish Vallhund, Akita Inu

1987      Otter Hound, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Belgian Shepherd (Malinois), Shar Pei

1988      Dachshund Miniature Long Hair, German Pinscher

1989      Affenpinscher, Irish Red and White Setter

1990      Glen of Imaal Terrier, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, German Spitz, Shiba Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier

1991      Welsh Terrier

1992      Jack Russell Terrier, Pason Jack Russell Terrier, Italian Spinone, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling, Belgian Shepherd (Laekenois), Maremma Sheepdog, Akita

1993      Neapolitan Mastiff

1994      L’epagneul Breton

1995      Australian Shepherd

1996      Finnish Lapphund, German Spitz (Mittel), Leonberger

1997      German Spitz (Klein), Weimaraner Long Hair and Short Hair

1998      Cesky Terrier, Kuvasz, Pumi

1999      Kangal Dog

2000      Bluetick Coonhound, Eurasier, Havanese, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

2001      Dogue De Bordeaux, Hamiltonstovare, Lagotto

2002      Black Russian Terrier

2003      Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Tenterfield Terrier

2006      Central Asian Shepherd Dog, Italian Corso Dog, Swedish Lapphund, Pyrenean Mastiff

2007      Basset Fauve De Bretagne, English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)

2008      Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla

2010      Bracco Italiano, Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, White Swiss Shepherd Dog

2012      Azawakh, Portugese Podengo (Small Smooth-Haired), Portugese Water Dog, Xoloitzcuintle (Standard)

 2013     German Shepherd Dog (LSC)

2014      Akita (Japanese), Cane Corso, German Hunting Terrier

2015      Peruvian Hairless Dog (Large), Tatra Shepherd Dog, Xoloitzcuintle (Miniature), Xoloitzcuintle (Intermediate)

2019      Coton De Tulear, Landseer Ect

Find out about Best in Show winners at the Sydney Royal Dog Show.