The Reading Room
Plain-English explainers for exhibitors — plus spotlight features on the shows and stories shaping the sport.
Show Spotlight
Tinley Park, IL — January 6–10, 2027. Five days of all-breed shows at the Tinley Park Convention Center — entries close December 18, 2026, judges, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Indio, CA — January 7–8, 2027. Two Non-Sporting group shows at the Riverside County Fairgrounds — entries open Nov 4, close Dec 23, full 2027 judge panel.
Show Spotlight
St. Paul, MN — January 8–10, 2027. Three all-breed shows at the Saint Paul RiverCentre — entries close December 23, 2026, fees, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Glen Rose, TX — January 8–10, 2027. Three all-breed shows at the Somervell County Expo Center — entries close December 23, 2026, fees, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Indio, CA — Friday, January 8, 2027. The Toy group day of the Palm Springs New Year Classic weekend at the Empire Polo Club — entries close Dec 23.
Show Spotlight
Tallmadge, OH — January 9–10, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the Summit County Fairgrounds — entries close Dec 23 at noon, judges, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Pendleton, SC — January 9–10, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the T. Ed Garrison Arena — entries close December 23, 2026, judges, and travel.
Show Spotlight
West Springfield, MA — January 9–10, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the Eastern States Exposition — entries close December 23, 2026, judges, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Indio, CA — January 8–11, 2027. Friday group day plus three all-breed shows at the Empire Polo Club — entries close Dec 23 at noon PT, free admission.
Show Spotlight
Brooksville, FL — January 14–18, 2027. Five all-breed shows across five days at Florida Classic Park — entries close December 30, 2026, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Sinton, TX — January 14–17, 2027. Four all-breed shows at the San Patricio County Fairgrounds — entries close December 30, 2026, RV info, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Turlock, CA — January 15–17, 2027. Three all-breed shows at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds — entries close December 30, 2026, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Starkville, MS — January 15–17, 2027. Three all-breed shows plus rally and obedience at the MS Horse Park — entries close December 30, 2026, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
West Friendship, MD — January 16–17, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the Howard County Fairgrounds — entries close December 30, 2026, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Waianae, HI — January 16–17, 2027. Two outdoor, unbenched all-breed shows on Oahu's west side — entries close December 30, 2026, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Oshkosh, WI — January 16–17, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds — entries close December 30, 2026, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Ventura, CA — January 29–31, 2027. Winterfest: three all-breed days at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
Alexandria, LA — January 29–31, 2027. Three all-breed days at the Alexandria Riverfront Center, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
Surprise, AZ — January 29, 2027. Two Toy-group shows in one Friday at Mark Coronado Park, leading into the Kachina weekend.
Show Spotlight
New York, NY — January 29–30, 2027. The famous New Yorker table show: two Toy-group shows in a Manhattan ballroom, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
Ladson, SC — January 30–31, 2027. Two all-breed days at Exchange Park; last year drew 830+ dogs a day.
Show Spotlight
Surprise, AZ — January 30–31, 2027. Two all-breed days at Mark Coronado Park, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
Gray Summit, MO — January 30–31, 2027. Two all-breed days at Purina Farms, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
Erie, PA — January 30–31, 2027. Two all-breed days plus obedience and rally at the Bayfront, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
Aiea, HI — January 30, 2027. Two Sporting-group shows on one Saturday, entries close January 13.
Show Spotlight
New York, NY — January 30–February 2, 2027. The 151st Westminster: Javits Center by day, Madison Square Garden by night, streaming live on Netflix.
Show Spotlight
January 20–24, 2027. Five all-breed shows in five days at Florida Classic Park: the second January cluster in Brooksville, with NOHS daily, specialties, Fast CAT, and the famous exhibitor barbecue.
Show Spotlight
January 20–24, 2027. Five all-breed shows in five days at the Lake County Fairgrounds: the Midwest’s big January winter circuit. Entries close January 1.
Show Spotlight
January 21, 2027. Two terrier-group limited-breed shows (AM & PM) at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, opening the four-day Ventura cluster weekend.
Show Spotlight
January 22–24, 2027. Three all-breed shows by the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, closing the Ventura cluster weekend. Entries close January 6.
Show Spotlight
January 22–24, 2027. The Mississippi State Kennel Club’s three all-breed shows at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, plus the Memphis Toy Dog Club’s five toy-breed shows. Entries close January 6.
Show Spotlight
January 23–24, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the Iowa State Fairgrounds’ Varied Industries Building, with NOHS, Beginner Puppy, and FSS open shows. Entries close January 6.
Show Spotlight
January 23–24, 2027. Two all-breed shows at the Howard County Fairgrounds — the club’s return after the 2026 winter-storm cancellation. Entries close January 6.
Show Spotlight
January 21–24, 2027. Four all-breed shows in four days at the Portland Expo Center: the Pacific Northwest’s premier winter circuit. Entries close January 6.
Show Spotlight
Erie, PA — October 22–24, 2026. The 69th ABA national specialty: sweepstakes, futurity, Top 25, and Best of Breed.
Show Spotlight
Wilmington, OH — October 24–28, 2026. The 90th STCA national specialty for American Staffordshire Terriers: regional + national, futurity, and the inaugural Champion Challenge.
Show Spotlight
Newark, OH — October 26–31, 2026. Six days of Siberian Huskies — agility, Fast CAT, obedience, rally, sweepstakes, and the national.
Show Spotlight
Springfield, MO — October 26–31, 2026. The 40th ACA national specialty: regionals, pre-national, Top 20, futurity, and Best of Breed.
Show Spotlight
Dixon/Davis, CA — October 22–24, 2026. The 42nd GSCA national specialty: sweepstakes, obedience, rally, the national, and concurrent all-breed shows.
Show Spotlight
New Lenox, IL — October 24–25, 2026. Four Poodle specialty shows in two days — including the club’s 100th show Sunday morning.
Show Spotlight
Frenchtown, NJ — October 24–25, 2026. Four Boston Terrier specialty shows in two days — plus a Halloween costume parade.
Show Spotlight
Reinholds, PA — October 24–25, 2026. Four Irish Setter specialty shows in two days — two clubs, one weekend.
Show Spotlight
Four days at Purina Farms: the national plus Western and Midwest regionals, a breeder’s sweepstakes, and the Invitational Gala — schedule, judges, and hotel.
Show Spotlight
Five days of Bouviers at Purina Farms: agility trials, the national with obedience and rally, and the Illinois regional — schedule, judges, and RV parking.
Show Spotlight
Five days in Wichita Falls: two regionals, sweepstakes, futurity, obedience and rally, and the national — judges, fees, and hotel.
Show Spotlight
A full week in Albany, Oregon: four days of conformation plus regionals, a hunt test, agility, scent work, obedience and rally — schedule, judges, and hotels.
Show Spotlight
The 60th Diamond Jubilee week in Lisle: two parent specialties, carnival, gala, and the national — judges, fees, and host hotel.
Show Spotlight
November 2–7, 2026. Six days of Pugs in Topeka: two regional specialties, sweepstakes, Juniors, obedience, rally, agility — and the national specialty.
Show Spotlight
October 29 – November 1, 2026. Four days of Bull Terriers in Louisville: the BTCA Specialty, Futurity, sweepstakes, Silverwood LVII — and the national specialty.
Show Spotlight
November 2–6, 2026. Five days of English Setters at Purina Farms: sweepstakes, futurity, the Top Twenty — and Best of Breed.
Show Spotlight
November 2–5, 2026. Four days of Beagles in Kingsport: the regional specialty, sweepstakes, Juniors, Fast CAT — and the 57th national specialty.
Show Spotlight
November 3–5, 2026. Three days of Italian Greyhounds in Napa: futurity, sweepstakes, the Top 20 — and Best of Breed.
Show Spotlight
October 31 – November 7, 2026. Eight days of French Bulldogs: the national specialty, two independent specialties, sweepstakes, the Top Twenty, and the breed’s biggest week of the year.
Show Spotlight
November 18–21, 2026. Four days of Brittanys: the independent specialty, the 84th annual national specialty, sweepstakes, obedience, rally, and agility.
Show Spotlight
November 24–30, 2026. Six all-breed shows over Thanksgiving week in Perry, Georgia: specialties, rally, Fast CAT, and the 12th Annual Owner-Handled Sweepstakes.
Show Spotlight
November 19–21, 2026. Three days of Pembrokes in Tryon: two independent specialties, sweepstakes, Junior Showmanship, 4–6 Month Puppy, and Fast CAT.
Show Spotlight
Seguin, TX — October 16–17, 2026. Three Dogo Argentino shows across two days — Friday’s South Texas and Central Florida regionals plus Saturday’s national specialty: judges, ring times, fees, and hotels.
Show Spotlight
Macungie, PA — October 15–16, 2026. Back-to-back Labrador Retriever regional specialties at Macungie Memorial Park: sweepstakes, NOHS, a Halloween costume contest, and full judge, ring-time, and hotel details.
Show Spotlight
Oaks, PA — November 12–15, 2026. Four all-breed days with Saturday’s show taped for the NBC Thanksgiving broadcast — entries close October 28, judges, tickets, and travel.
Show Spotlight
Orlando, FL — December 8–13, 2026. The 26th AKC National Championship plus Puppy & Junior Stakes, NOHS Finals, and three lead-in all-breed shows — entries close November 4, judges, hotels, and travel.
Show Spotlight
October 20–23, 2026 — four days of Afghan Hounds at the Roberts Centre. What it is, when to go, and why.
Show Spotlight
October 19–24, 2026 — the Great Dane Club of America national specialty at the MeadowView Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tennessee. What it is, when to go, and why.
Show Spotlight
October 19–24, 2026 — the Alaskan Malamute Club of America national specialty. What it is, when to go, and why.
Show Spotlight
October 21–24, 2026 — the American Bloodhound Club national specialty. What it is, when to go, and why.
Show Spotlight
October 25–31, 2026 — seven days of Bulldogs, the 132nd BCA national specialty week. What it is, when to go, and why.
Guide
Judging programs buried in PDFs, closing dates scattered across superintendent sites, ring times discovered at midnight. Your whole dog show season in one place.
Guide
Missed entries, double-booked weekends, closing dates buried on forgotten pages. Agility, Fast CAT, obedience, rally, coursing — every sport on one calendar.
Explainer
What “15 points including two majors” really means — why males and females are scored separately, why the same breed needs 40 dogs for a major in Pennsylvania but 15 in Wyoming, and how to read 11-16-4-6.
Explainer
After the championship: how Select Dog and Select Bitch earn points, and the road from GCH to Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Explainer
The parallel competition for owner-handlers: how NOHS points are calculated, the Finals in Orlando, and why it matters even with zero championship points.
Reference
CGC, TKN, BCAT, CD — every title after a dog’s name, decoded sport by sport, with links to each sport’s home.
Family Dog
S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC, Trick Dog (TKN through TKE), Fetch, FIT DOG — real AKC titles for every breed and every mix. Here’s how it works and how to start.
History
Since 1929, the first weekend of October has belonged to terriers in Pennsylvania. Legendary winners, famous handlers, and why terrier people make the pilgrimage.
Spotlight • Bilingual EN/ES
Ancient breeds, modern champions: the Xoloitzcuintli, the Chihuahua, the Calupoh, and the world-stage winners — from Sonnito’s 48 Bests in Show to Calaco’s Reserve BIS at the World Dog Show — carrying Mexico into its first AKC championship.
Spotlight • Bilingual EN/ES
Four days, four all-breed shows, points that count toward your AKC championship — earned south of the border for the first time in history. November 12–15, Mexico City. Entries close October 14.
Spotlight
Six days, two specialties, and the breed’s biggest week of the year — the Midwest regional and national specialties, weight pull, sweepstakes, futurity, and the Top 20 gala, October 19–24 in Springfield, Missouri.