A steady rise in the collie’s popularity throughout the 1870s inspired an increasing number of show societies to schedule classes. The more than three fold increase from five to seventeen shows per year during the decade encouraging several important fanciers to adopt the breed, the results easily seen by a marked improvement in type before the decade closed.
Show Collies still tended to be bought with pedigree unknown, typical of this genie being the decade’s most successful show collie, Henshall’s Mec, the only Collie to be given two separate Stud Book entries in the same volume. His long winning career starting with a first at Birmingham Dog Show Society’s prestigious ‘National Exhibition’ 1871, and culminating with the Champions Class at the same show in 1878. Mec’s other major wins included the breed’s first three Champions Classes, the first of which was scheduled by The Kennel Club at its own ‘National Dog Show’ 1873, where Sheep-Dogs were judged by Messrs Lloyd-Price and Lort.
