An Exhibition of Sporting and other Dogs was held in the Exhibition Palace, Dublin, on January 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th, 1877, when Mr. S. T. Fitzpatrick acted as manager and secretary, and secured an entry of 637.

The judges chosen on the occasion were: Messrs. R. G. Ridgway, D. Bellamy, W. Lort, J. Taylor, J. J. Pim, W. G. Merry, and Whyte.

Irish Setters, divided into Red, and Red and White, were the largest in the Sporting Classes, the chief winners being Messrs. Lipscombe, Donelly, Hilliard, O'Brien, Twigg, Moore, Staunton, Skidmore, Brady, Richardson, and Gallwey. Greyhounds found Messrs. Swinburne, Sande, Martin, and Irwin taking all the prizes. In Pointers Messrs. Skidmore, Cronyn, Pike, and Jarratt were those "in the money."

Mastiffs, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Deer-hounds, Sheep-dogs, Bull-dogs, and Bull-terriers had but one class each, and nothing very striking in them. In Fox-terriers Messrs. E. J. Poer, Beatty, J. P. Dillon, and J. Pryde were the principal winners. Irish Terriers were a small entry, with Mr. R. B. Carey in front. The prizes in Skyes were divided between Messrs. Skidmore and Pattison. Black-and-tan Terriers found Mr. W. Graham (since so popular as an exhibitor and breeder of Irish Terriers on both sides of the Channel) at head of affairs. All the rest were small classes, except Puppies, the winners in which were Messrs. W. K. Barrett, T. Ryan, J. A. Doyle, E. J. Poer, M. Perry, Mrs. E. L. Bull, Mrs. P. R. Pigott, Messrs. W. F. Lambert and A. E. C. Stuart.

The First Exhibition of Fox-terriers only, under the management of the Fox-terrier Club, was held at Lillie Bridge Grounds, London, on May 2nd and 3rd, 1877, with Mr. S. Dixon as manager and secretary, and an entry of 220.

The judge appointed was Mr. Theodore Bassett.

Smooth Fox-terriers were represented, amongst others, in the prize list by Messrs. Fred. Burbidge (with Nimrod, Dorcas, and Nettle), H. Gibson (with Brokenhurst Joe), C. T. Abbott's Moslem and Archer, J. R. Whittle's Yorick, Hulse's Royal and Nottingham Rose, Pilgrim's Akeley Nettle, Brandon's Paladin, W. J. Hyde's Banner, R. White's Dressmaker, F. Redmond's Deacon Nettle, J. A. Doyle's Coquette, Thackrey's Eclipse and Jester II., and J. J. Pirn's Judy. In Wire-hairs appeared Messrs. W. Carrick's Venture and Vixen, A. H. Easten's Champion Tip, Lindsay Hogg's Topper, D. Graham's Vixen, and G. F. Richardson's Bramble and Birch (the latter long afterwards associated with Mr. S. E. Shirley's kennel). Those interested in Fox-terriers will notice what a grand collection of historic names was seen at this show, and how many of the specimens shown, and their owners, have since made their mark in the Doggy World!

At Wolverhampton a dog show was held on May 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1877, with Mr. A. Giles as secretary, and an entry of 318.

The judges were: Messrs. W. Cropper, H. Gibson, and S. Handley.

The great strength was in the Sporting Classes, which mostly filled well. The chief winners in Pointers were Messrs. J. Fletcher, J. H. Whitehouse, J. J. Bagnall, Lalle, Hickson, and Moore. Deer-hounds had one class, with Messrs. Hood-Wright, Parker, and Chinnery taking the prizes. Retrievers were not numerous, the chief prizes going to Messrs. How, J. Harrison, and W. Long. Setters were fair, with Messrs. Fletcher, Plimley, Mapplebeck, Ainge, F. Jones, and T. B. Bowers taking all the prizes amongst them. Spaniels were a typical lot, most of the prizes being taken by Messrs. P. Bullock. Bowers, Lamb, Britton, and J. Fletcher. In a good entry of Fox-Terriers the most prominent in the prize list were Messrs. Jack Terry, Watson, J. Kendall, C. E. Horsfall, A. Brayne, H. Lacy, W. J. Hyde, and W. Eale.

In Newfoundlands and Sheep-dogs Mr. H. Mapplebeck took more prizes than any one else. St. Bernards found Messrs. S. W. Smith and Tinker dividing all the money; Mastiffs were just the same between Messrs. Parkinson and Mark Beaufoy. In the Smooth-coated Terriers Messrs. H. Lacy and Roocroft had it pretty well their own way. In the Rough-coated Terriers the winners were amongst Messrs. Hazlehurst, Mapplebeck, Lucas, and Fawdry. Entries were small in Toy Terriers and Spaniels, with some well-known specimens in them. I do not remember noticing Zouave (the Esquimaux so long afterwards shown by him) entered in the name of Mr. H. Mapplebeck before this show, nor do I remember seeing Charlie (the Pomeranian he so long afterwards successfully exhibited at most of the shows), shown by Mr. J. Fawdry in company with his equally well-known Dalmatian Captain and Smooth Collie, I think called Fan. They were all certain to be in the prize list, generally first or second, wherever they appeared.

This same year was notable for the holding of the First Annual Exhibition of Sporting and other Dogs at Gilmore's Gardens, New York, U.S.A., on May 8th, 9th, and 10th, 1877, with Mr. C. Lincoln as manager, and an entry of 1,191.

The judges appointed were the following: Messrs. J. Davidson, T. F. P. Kavnagh, F.R.G.S., Dr. L. H. Twaddell, Captain J. M. Taylor, and Rev. J. C. Macdona.

It commenced with Champion Classes for English Setters and Pointers, the winners in the former being owned by Messrs. L. H. Smith, A. Burge, St. Louis Kennel Club, Messrs. Jesse Sherwood, and A. F. Copeland, and, in the latter, by Mr. R. J. Lloyd Price and the Columbia (Ohio) Kennel Club. Setters were far and away the biggest entries in the show, with many subdivisions. The winners in English Classes were Messrs. L. H. Smith, C. S. Westcott, D. T. Charles, and P. McShane; in Native Dogs, Messrs. C. A. Cross, W. Holberton, R. F. Marcelliott, G. D. Roymond, S. F. Speir, and T. Morford; in Irish (Imported), Messrs. W. N. Callender, M. von Culin, T. Medley, H. le Grand, and St. Louis Kennel Club; in Native Classes, Messrs. H. Bachellor, J. A. Barnes, F. H. Cuzzon, C. E. Miles, W. P. Aston, and G. W. Barsford; in Gordons (Native or Imported), Messrs. H. T. Leavitt, A. Belmont, G. S. Sidgwick, J. R. Tilley, M. Grinnell, and N. R. Muslin; in Native Gordons, Messrs. G. C. Colburn and G. W. Barsford. Pointers were fair classes, in which Messrs. T. G. Strong, E. H. Lathrop, S. B. Dilley, P. Roger, E. Orgill, D. B. Fuller, A. R. Strachan, and Jesse Sherwood took the prizes. In Spaniels (divided into Irish, Water-spaniels, Retrieving Spaniels, Other than Irish Cockers, and Field Spaniels of Any other Breed) the winners were Messrs. T. Finn, W. A. Coster, J. Thomas, F. H. Hoe, Raymond, Creed, G. H. Andrews, and H. Blossom. Dachshunds found Messrs. T. B. Allen, F. Lester, S. L. Parson, and F. Gubner dividing all the money between them. Fox-terriers were a small entry, in which Messrs. C. Walton, Darling, G. de L. Macdona, and Oderick were successful.

St. Bernards were fairly supported by Messrs. C. T. Smith, A. H. Nichol, D. P. Foster, and Miss C. Pearsall. Messrs. F. Bronson and R. L. Maitland took all the prizes in two classes for Collies. Mastiffs were a small group, in which those owned by Messrs. A. A. Brown, W. F. Morgan, and F. R. Appleton were the winners. Terriers (divided into Black-and-tan, Skyes, Yorkshires, Scottish, Dandies, and Toys) had one class, the chief prizes going to Messrs. Browning, Greacen, Doolittle, Sanderson, J. A. Brown, Kaahal, Rice, Collins, A. Cordet, Raymond, Mrs. Charlton Park, and Mr. C. O. Irelin. There was nothing else worthy of notice.