Phoenix Bulldog Club Histoy
(Compiled by Barbara Thackery)
1947 through 1973 were the formative years for Arizona bulldog owners. By 1972 when the Phoenix Bulldog Club (PBC) was established as a member club of Bulldog Club of America (BCA), Arizona had gone through at least six club call names.
The first was Thunderbird Bulldog Breeder’s Association which consisted of more than 18 members that merged with the Arizona Bulldog Club (ABC) founding year unknown. The combined clubs largest member- ship, an unsteady 32 members in 1949, began sliding downhill in the 1950’s. "The Bulldog" magazine, a publication for bulldog owners of that era, contained an Arizona column which stated that in 1950 the ABC was accepted as a BCA member; however the BCA Division minutes recorded that the Arizona Bulldog Club requested and received Division membership in 1964. These columns also allude vaguely to an unnamed, pre-1947 club.
By 1966 the club was no longer in good Division standing and at the end of that year a Cactus State Bulldog Club sent its dues in. It was then that the Division turned to AKC to ask their position on two Bulldog clubs in the same city. In 1968 ABC folded in deference to what was now called Cactus Bulldog Club of Greater Phoenix (CBCGP).
In 1971, a club termed Phoenix Bulldog Fanciers (PBF) appeared. CBCGP and PBF were prevailed upon to attempt a trial mating under the logo of Bulldog Club of Greater Phoenix. 1973 found the two clubs, now called the Phoenix Bulldog Club, planning a Sanctioned B Match.
In 1976, PBC was selected by the division to host the Division III Specialty so the new Arizona club could be properly launched on its show-giving career. PBC’s late winter Specialty entry has traditionally been aided by large all-breed backup shows. The "Phoenix Weekend" provided, and to this day continues to provide, welcome winter relief for bulldoggers from the snows and the rains of neighboring states so well over half of the PBC Specialty entries usually are from out of state.
Phoenix Bulldog Club was incorporated as a non-profit organization December 29, 1990.