Cincinnati BuIldog Club

Approximately 20 years before the Cincinnati Bulldog Club was formed, the Greater Cincinnati Bulldog Club existed in Ohio. That club was dissolved when the Kentuckiana Bulldog Club was formed in the Louisville, Kentucky area.

During late 1960s a group of bulldoggers met to learn if there was once again enough interest in organizing another Bulldog club in the Cincinnati area.

At one point, the club used the name, “Riverfront Bulldog Club.” However, that name was not allowed by the American Kennel Club because it did not clearly identify the general region the club would serve.

The first unofficial meeting was held at the home of Connie Thatcher (now Connie Thatcher-Lowell). The following month, the club heard from Sam Steding who had placed an advertisement in Dog News magazine to announce a club meeting that was to be held following the 1970 Northern Kentucky Kennel Club show at the Latonia Race Track.

A month later, the group sponsored a puppy match in Clermont County. Carl Sommers was the judge. Entry fees were approximately $1 per dog. James and Sue Marquardt, a founding member, owned the winner.

After the puppy match, officers were elected, and Sam Steding was elected president.

Other founding and early members of the club included Phyllis Huff, Sue and James Marquardt, John and Ruth Cummings, Dr. Thomas and Ann Groff, Dick and Mary Jo Miller, Mildred Childress, Carol Nichols, Nancy Juillerat, Gene and Helen Gable, Sue and Ina Fletcher, Connie Thatcher-Lowell, Betsy and George Moody, and Frank & Janice Hayden.

Phyllis Huff, a founder and strong early supporter of the club, is still an active member. The club's unique logo was created by Gene Gable, an early supporter of the new club.

The club adopted its constitution and bylaws at a meeting held at the Hotel Alms on March 28, 1972.

The first AKC approved "A" match, judged by Frances (Bud) Edwards, was held at the Cincinnati Armory on Reading Road. The club's first specialty show, judged by Nancy Harrison with Neil Ragan judging sweepstakes, was held at the former "Old Coney" park on the Ohio River. Both of them judged Cincinnati's 10th anniversary show.

Nancy Harrison has also judged the club's 20^th anniversary show. She will also judge the club's 31st anniversary show in 2008, subject to BCA and AKC approval.

The club normally holds two specialty shows and an AKC "B" match annually over Memorial Day weekend in conjunction with the Cincinnati Kennel Club show cluster. The club also holds a fall puppy match and hosts a Christmas party in December.

Club meetings are held at Especially Dogs in Fort Wright, Kentucky, on the last Tuesday of the month, except during the month of November.

For more information, contact the club's website, cincinnatibulldogclub.com, which was created and is maintained by Tracy Snyder.