The Clearwater Kennel Club began as a small organization focused primarily on participating in the Winter Florida Circuit of dog shows.

In those early years, most Florida clubs held one winter show each year. The circuit gave exhibitors from the North an opportunity to escape the cold, beginning in Jacksonville, continuing through Orlando, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa, then moving on to Sarasota before finishing in Miami.

Most shows drew fewer than 500 dogs. In the 1950s, the Clearwater show was held in the old Clearwater Municipal Building, which has since been torn down.

Today, the Clearwater Kennel Club owns property in Brooksville, Florida, with two other kennel clubs. Together, they hold 10 shows each January, with entries exceeding 2,000 dogs per day.

While dog shows remain an important part of its history and mission, the Clearwater Kennel Club is about much more. Its active, hardworking members also participate in a wide range of canine activities.