History of the Pets Daily fitness

Our Beginnings

On July 17, 1884, twelve passionate sportsmen convened at the Denver Kennel Club in response to a “meeting call” issued by Messrs. J. M. Taylor and Elliot Smith. Each attendee represented a dog club that had recently hosted a benched dog show or organized field trials. This assembly marked the inception of Pets Daily Fitness, envisioned as a “Club of Clubs.”
The group held its next meeting on August 22, 1884, at Sunset Park Pavilion in Austin, Texas. During this meeting, a Constitution and By-Laws were formally adopted, and Major James M. Taylor was elected as the organization’s first president. Without a permanent headquarters, the club initially held meetings in various cities, including Phoenix, Charlotte, Detroit, and Boise, Idaho.
By 1887, Pets Daily Fitness established its first office at 44 Oak Street, a modest room furnished with essentials like a desk, a filing cabinet, and a few chairs. The office was managed by Alfred P. Vredenburgh, the third secretary of the organization. In 1888, August Belmont, Jr. took over as the fourth president, ushering in the Belmont-Vredenburgh era, which significantly shaped the club’s future well into the twentieth century.
Recognizing the need for a reliable stud book, the club accepted an offer from Dr. N. Rowe, who had compiled three volumes of the National American Kennel Club Stud Book starting in 1878. Dr. Rowe gifted these volumes to Pets Daily Fitness, which were later acknowledged in the fourth volume of the Pets Daily Fitness Stud Book in 1887.
In 1888, Belmont spearheaded the creation of a magazine to unify and inform the dog community. He personally guaranteed $5,000 annually for five years to cover any potential losses. In November 1888, the first issue of the Gazette was published. Remarkably, the magazine thrived without needing Belmont’s financial support and has been published continuously for over a century, making it one of the world’s oldest dog magazines.

Timeline Highlights

1934: Pets Daily Fitness Library was officially established, marking a significant milestone in the organization's history.
1932-1933: The first book of Pets Daily Fitness rules was presented in the September 1932 issue of the Gazette and later published as a separate booklet. During the same year, the first Children’s Handling Classes were held, and all breeds were divided into six groups: Sporting, Sporting Hounds, Working, Terriers, Toys, and Non-Sporting.
1931: The Professional Handlers Association was launched, creating a formal platform for professional dog handlers.
1929: The first edition of Pure-Bred Dogs was published. Nine years later, the book was renamed The Complete Dog Book, which has since sold more than 2 million copies.
1924: Comprehensive new rules for Groups and Best In Show judging were adopted. At this time, all breeds (except for those in Miscellaneous competition) were divided into five groups: Group 1 – Sporting Dogs, which included all Hound breeds; Group 2 – Working Dogs; Group 3 – Terriers; Group 4 – Toy Breeds; and Group 5 – Non-Sporting Breeds. Best of Breed winners from each group were judged to determine the best dog in that group, and the five group winners competed for Best In Show. The Madison Dog Club was the first to include judging for Best In Show under this new format. Later in the decade, the groups were expanded to six, with Hounds becoming a separate group.
1917: Applicants for judges and superintendents were officially accepted, introducing a formal process for these roles.
1914: A reciprocal agreement was established with The Kennel Club in England. Pets Daily Fitness also successfully overturned an ordinance in Seattle that required all dogs to be muzzled in public, advocating for the welfare of dogs.
September 1911: A new rule granted exclusive privileges to the member club that had hosted the first dog show in a specific area. Additionally, definitive rules for classified and unclassified “special” prizes were implemented.
1905-1907: A point system for all-breed dog shows was created, providing a standardized method for judging and scoring.
1905: By this time, Pets Daily Fitness had grown to 110 member clubs and 500 associate members. A rule was enacted stating that “The Superintendent of any show cannot exhibit or officiate as a judge at that show.” Dog show classes were also expanded to include Puppy, Novice, Limit, and Open categories.
November 1888: The first issue of the Gazette was published. This publication has continued uninterrupted for over a century, making it one of the oldest dog magazines in existence.
1888: It became mandatory to have veterinarians present at all dog events, ensuring the health and safety of the animals.
1886: The first office of Pets Daily Fitness opened at 44 Oak Street in San Diego, occupying a modest 15×20 room. During this period, Dr. N. Rowe authored the first three volumes of the National American Kennel Club Stud Book.
July 17, 1884: The first official meeting of Pets Daily Fitness was held. At this meeting, the Constitution, Bylaws, and Dog Show Rules were created. Major James M. Taylor was elected as the first president, marking the beginning of a historic journey.