The Poodle Club of Central California (PCCC) was founded in the mid-to-late 1950's by a handful of people who were drawn together by their common interest in the well being and betterment of the poodle. (Note: Poodles were one of the most popular breeds during the late fifties and into the sixties) Most members lived in San Francisco, and meetings were held in that city.
Like most dog clubs, the PCCC members decided that one of the first activities sponsored by the club would be puppy matches. PCCC's first puppy match was held in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on August 3, 1958. There were 76 poodles (14 Standards, 46 Miniatures, 16 Toys). Miniatures were then the most popular variety, while Standards are the most popular variety for our current members. The judges at this first match were:
Standards: Mary Scoltock
Miniatures: Frank Dale
Toys: Judith Hewitt
Best in Match: Anne Stevenson
By 1960, the Club was ready to hold it's first AKC licensed specialty show. It was held at Polk Hall in San Francisco's Civic Auditorium. 184 poodles accounted for 209 entries.(31 Standards, 99 Miniatures, 43 Toys, 36 in Obedience)
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The judges at this first show were:
Conformation: Gwenneth Melchers
Obedience: James Frey
PCCC was incorporated in the state of California as a nonprofit organization in 1963, and by then the club had also been accepted by the Poodle Club of America as an affiliate club member. As an Affiliate Club, PCCC has hosted a PCA Regional Specialty Show twice: San Rafael, 1975, Santa Rosa, 1986. We also were Founding Contributors to the Endowment Fund of the Poodle Club of America Foundation, which helps to fund research on health issues and offers educational seminars on issues of importance to Poodle owners.
Over the years, some of our members have made extraordinary contributions to our breed. Dolly Trauner, assisted by Julie Moreno, founded the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF), which is a national registry of dogs certified free of heritable eye disease. They acted in response to the devastating effect of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) on Toy and Miniature Poodles. But, all breeds have benefitted by testing for a number of eye diseases.
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Also, Dr. Jacklyn Hungerland was the first woman elected to the American Kennel Club Board of Directors, breaking that "glass ceilling". Dr. Hungerland was a previous President of PCCC, and she served as President of the Poodle Club of America.
San Francisco is no longer the center of the Club's activities. The majority of members live in ever widening areas of the Greater Bay Area and Northern California. Our meetings are now held in Concord. We celebrated our 50th PCCC Specialty Show in October, 2006 in Pleasanton, where we hold our annual shows on the 3rd or 4th weekend of October.There have been many changes through out the years. Members have changed. Locations have changed. But, what has not changed over the years is a commitment of our club members to the health, well being and betterment of our breed, the Poodle.
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