The 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place this weekend at the Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, NY. The annual event draws huge audiences in person (except this year) and on television from knowledgeable dog aficionados to general dog lovers who enjoy the pomp and circumstance, the meticulous grooming, the fun agility contests, and (for many of us) the unscripted and often humorous moments when dogs lose focus and just act like regular dogs. 

The New York Public Library's collections include 125,000 cigarette cards—promotional themed trading cards that served a dual purpose of stiffening cigarette packages— of which almost 50,000 are digitized for you to explore. For dog fans, there are many notable dog-themed card collections you can browse. In honor of the Westminster show, we're highlighting some of the dogs in the Best Dogs of Their Breed collection which showcases 50 past champions of dog shows around the country and world.

Breed: Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Name: Alpin Slitrig
Fun fact: The owner, Mrs. Simpson Shaw, was the editor of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club Supplement. In 1909 a song about the breed was presented to the club by writer H.J. Bidwell and composer W. Berridge-Hicks. Here's a sampling of the lyrics: "He's full of pluck and go, And for any kind of sport he's very hand-y; To hunt is his delight, From morning until night, My merry little Border Tyke, My Dan-die!"

Breed: Brussels Griffon
Name: Copthorne Talk O' The Town
Owner: Named after Brussels, their city of origin, Brussels Griffons are thought by many to resemble the appearance of a monkey. 

Breed: English Bulldog
Name: Rodney Stone
Fun fact: Rodney was the first bulldog sold for £1000.

Breed: Dachshund
Name: Lady Madeline
Fun fact: A dachshund has never won Best in Show at Westminster.

Breed: Irish Terrier
Name: Thorncroft Marksman
Fun Fact: Marksman was dominant in his day. In April 12, 1911 the Boston Globe ran this headline about the 27th annual dog show of New England Kennel Club: "Thorncroft Marksman Repeats His New York Success. Sensational Irish Terrier Ran Away With Everything in Sight in His Class."

Breed: Blenheim Toy Spaniel
Name: Windfall
Fun fact: Windfall's owner, The Hon. Mrs. Lytton (née Judith Blunt, and aka Lady Wentworth), wrote Toy Dogs And Their Ancestors: Including The History And Management Of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese, And Pomeranians which was published in 1911. She was the granddaughter of mathematician and "first computer programmer"Ada Lovelace, and the  great-granddaughter of poet Lord Byron. 
 

Explore the Best Dogs of Their Breed Collection

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