Beckley West Virginia Kennel Club

In November 1977 a small group of dog fanciers in the Beckley area began the process of gaining approval as an AKC club and, after much discussion, decided to call themselves the Beckley WV Kennel Club.  From the beginning, the club was represented by members from a wide geographical area of southern WV, from Beckley and Oak Hill to Princeton and Lewisburg. The club was formally incorporated in February 1980. The process of gaining AKC approval to hold conformation shows and obedience trials began with the firstB match in September 1, 1978 and was completed with the last A match in 1986.  The club proudly held its First Dog Show with conformation and obedience competition on Sept. 11, 1987; part of a two-day weekend with the Greater Clarksburg Kennel Club, and the club has held a show every year since then.  In 2002, BWVKC began holding it’s own back-to-back shows independently of any other club.  In 2005, the brand new sport of Rally Obedience was added to the show.  In 2008, a four-day cluster was born at the State Fair grounds in Fairlea, when the BWVKC asked Magic Valley Kennel Club to join forces with them for two days of shows sponsored from each Club. 

 

The club began offering training classes to the public on June 14, 1993. The very first class session had an enrollment of 50 handlers. The club has supported the Canine Good Citizen program since 1991, and has several members who are certified CGC Evaluators for AKC.  Over the years, BWVKC has also been active in community service, including supporting breed rescue, donations to local police dog programs, pet therapy visits to local hospitals and nursing homes, educational programs on a variety of dog care, health, and sport topics, raising money for charities or disaster relief, and participating in a pledge drive for public TV.

 

The educational efforts of the club and dedication of its members has led to significant accomplishments by members over the years.  Club members have finished many champions, shown dogs at prestigious events such as Westminster, and campaigned dogs to national breed rankings, as well as earning titles and breed rankings in obedience, rally, tracking, agility, and herding.  Other members have gone on to become dog show judges, breeders of notable dogs in their respective breeds, or own successful dog businesses.  Breeds owned by the current club membership include Bulldog, Dalmatian, Rough Collie, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Sheepdog, German Shepherd Dog, Welsh Terriers, Cane Corso, Cairn Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Spinoni Italiano, Golden Retriever, Pekingese, Shetland Sheepdog, Australian Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Swedish Valhund, Toy Poodle, Standard Poodle, Italian Greyhound, Boston Terrier, Bull Mastiff, English Setter, Neopolitan Mastiff, Beagle, Labrador Retriever, German Shorthaired Pointer, Yorkshire Terrier, Border Collie, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, and Dachshund.