1861 – Prize Dogs at the Leeds Show

“Prize Dogs at the Leeds Show” is a half page feature image, taken from the August 3rd, 1861 edition of “The Illustrated London News”. It is reporting on the results of the 1861 Leeds Dog Show, one of the earliest repeat shows, after the initial round of shows in 1860, when dog shows of multiple breed classes became official. Harrison Weir, as an early instigator for the process, was involved in giving illustrative cover on behalf of the press of the day. Most of these early shows were covered by him. As a dog lover and owner himself, he took a very lively and active interest in their promotion. His illustrative efforts on behalf of dog behaviour and the anecdotes surrounding them simply boomed during the “sixties”, simultaneously with the rise and fame of dog shows throughout Britain. This image is currently available in A4, A3 and A2 sizing options.