About Us

Founded in 1927 by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge and held on her polo fields in sleepy Madison, New Jersey, the Morris & Essex Kennel Club dog show typified the elegance, glamour and judging excellence that defined the sport of dogs in its heyday. In 2000, almost a half-century after Mrs. Dodge stopped her annual tradition, a group of committed fanciers revived the storied show. And every five years since, the modern-day Morris & Essex Kennel Club has reprised Mrs. Dodge's tradition, with a one-day outdoor dog show that is unparalleled in the world for its scope and quality. More than 4,000 dogs -- and a gathering of serious fanciers from around the world -- are anticipated for the 2025 show, to be held Wednesday, October 1, at Colonial Park in Somerset, New Jersey.