National Specialty · Topeka, Kansas
Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026
November 2–7, 2026 — six days of Pugs in Topeka: two regional specialties, sweepstakes, Junior Showmanship, obedience, rally, an onsite agility trial, and the national specialty
Documents 📄 Premium List 📋 Judging Program — pending
Weekend at a glance
The Pug Dog Club of America hosts its 2026 National Specialty November 2–7, 2026, at the Hotel Topeka At City Center in Topeka, Kansas — six days built around the “Follow The Yellow Brick Road” theme. The week opens with two regional specialties (Monday and Tuesday), runs regional and national sweepstakes midweek, adds an onsite pug-only agility trial and two scent work trials on Wednesday, and closes with the national specialty on Friday and Saturday, ending with the annual awards banquet Saturday night.
- Dates
- November 2–7, 2026
- Venue
- Hotel Topeka At City Center
- Host club
- Pug Dog Club of America, Inc.
- Format
- National specialty + 2 regional specialties
- Entries
- Registration closed (entries closed October 14, 2026)
- Premium list
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
🥄 Read our guide: Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026 — what it is, when to go, and why
More about this show
Verified 2026 Registration closed · Dates, venue, fees & closing verified via BaRay Event Services · Judge change: Mr. Eugene Blake withdrew for health reasons; Mr. Timothy Catterson judges the national specialty
- Dates
- Monday through Saturday
- Venue
- 1717 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612
- Host club
- AKC member club
- Format
- Pug (Toy Group) — national + two regional specialties; sweepstakes, Juniors, obedience, rally, agility, scent work
- Entries
- Closed Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific
Superintendent: BaRay Event Services, Inc. · PO Box 508, Burlington, WA 98233 — entries online at barayevents.com; show chair Karen Burgess
Enter the show
- Superintendent
- BaRay Event Services, Inc. — entries online at barayevents.com
- Closing
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 12:00 noon Pacific
- Conformation first entry
- $35.00
- Conformation additional entry
- $28.00
- Puppy classes (6–9 & 9–12 mos.)
- $28.00
- Bred-by-exhibitor (puppy & adult)
- $28.00
- Veteran classes
- $28.00
- Sweepstakes
- $23.00 (must be entered in a regular class)
- Veteran sweepstakes
- $23.00 (need not be entered in a regular class)
- Junior Showmanship
- Free
- Brace (per dog)
- $18.00
- 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy
- $17.00
- Obedience first entry / additional
- $35.00 / $28.00
- Rally first entry / additional
- $35.00 / $28.00
♡ Save this show — keep it in your personal show list and get back to the judges, ring times and weekend details from any device.
Save keeps the weekend in your list · Plan adds it to your show schedule · Calendar puts it on your TPA calendar.
The days
Six days from the club’s national specialty schedule. Verified 2026
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 2 | Regional #1 — conformation — Mr. Patrick McManus; Junior Showmanship — Kelley Ruffoni; 4–6 Month Puppy (Regional 1) — Mr. Patrick McManus; Rally trial (regional) — Kenneth Kozak; Pizza & Bingo Night (evening) |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Regional #2 — conformation — Mr. David Fitzpatrick; Junior Showmanship — Mr. David Fitzpatrick; 4–6 Month Puppy (Regional 2) — Mr. David Fitzpatrick; Obedience trial (regional) — Kenneth Kozak; AKC Temperament Test |
| Wed, Nov 4 | Sweepstakes (Regional 1) — Michael Anderson; Sweepstakes (Regional 2) — Sarah Ayers; pug-only agility trial; two scent work trials — Laura Stoltzfus; PDCA board meeting; welcome party |
| Thu, Nov 5 | National Sweepstakes & Veteran Sweepstakes — Joy Barbieri; National Obedience — Rick L. Garvin; National Rally — Rick L. Garvin |
| Fri, Nov 6 | National Specialty — conformation through veterans, non-regular classes — Mr. Timothy Catterson; 4–6 Month Puppy Competition — Mr. Timothy Catterson; judges education; Showcase & Showcase After-Party |
| Sat, Nov 7 | National Specialty continued — Mr. Timothy Catterson; Junior Showmanship — Mr. Timothy Catterson; annual awards banquet (evening, cash bar) |
Show hours are 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM each day; all events indoors and unbenched. Day-by-day ring times arrive with the judging program. Verified 2026
Build your day plan
Add your dogs, pick this show, and get your ring times in order — class dogs, bitches, and champions factored automatically.
Your show-day schedule, saved by date.
Judging program not yet published
No ring times or ring assignments have been verified yet. Ring cards will be built from the official program as soon as it’s out.
Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging slate for the 2026 national specialty week. Verified 2026
National specialty — conformation, 4–6 Month Puppy, Junior Showmanship
- Mr. Timothy Catterson (replaced Mr. Eugene Blake, who withdrew for health reasons)
Regional #1 (Mon) — conformation & 4–6 Month Puppy
- Mr. Patrick McManus
Regional #1 (Mon) — Junior Showmanship
- Kelley Ruffoni
Regional #2 (Tue) — conformation, 4–6 Month Puppy & Junior Showmanship
- Mr. David Fitzpatrick
National sweepstakes & veteran sweepstakes (Thu)
- Joy Barbieri
Regional sweepstakes (Wed)
- Michael Anderson (Regional 1)
- Sarah Ayers (Regional 2)
Obedience & rally
- Rick L. Garvin (national, Thursday)
- Kenneth Kozak (regional, Monday/Tuesday)
Agility & scent work
- Christie Bowers (pug-only agility trial)
- Laura Stoltzfus (scent work trials)
Judges announced by the Pug Dog Club of America in the 2026 premium list and on the club’s national specialty page; the national specialty judge change (Timothy Catterson replacing Eugene Blake) was announced by the club.
Juniors
Junior Showmanship runs at both regionals and the national specialty. Verified 2026
- Regional #1 Junior Showmanship (Mon)
- Kelley Ruffoni
- Regional #2 Junior Showmanship (Tue)
- Mr. David Fitzpatrick
- National Junior Showmanship (Sat)
- Mr. Timothy Catterson
Junior Showmanship is free as an only or additional class.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event. Verified 2026
- Event
- Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Pug (Toy Group)
- Type
- National specialty + two regional specialties
- Host club
- Pug Dog Club of America, Inc.
- Dates
- November 2–7, 2026 — Topeka, Kansas
- National specialty
- Friday & Saturday, November 6–7 — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Month Puppy: Mr. Timothy Catterson; sweepstakes: Joy Barbieri
- Regional specialties
- Monday, November 2 — Mr. Patrick McManus; Tuesday, November 3 — Mr. David Fitzpatrick
- Performance
- Obedience & rally (regional and national), pug-only agility trial, two scent work trials, AKC Temperament Test
Plan your visit
Host hotel
The host hotel is the Hotel Topeka At City Center, 1717 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612 — the show’s home base for the week. Verified 2026
- Group rate
- $129.00 per night ($150.99 with taxes and fees) — book through the official club link; the room block cutoff was October 1, 2026 (limit two rooms per reservation)
- Pet policy
- $75.00 non-refundable pet deposit · maximum six (6) dogs per room · dogs must be crated when left alone · plastic under all crates · no x-pens in rooms
- Deposit
- One-night deposit charged at booking; refundable only through September 28, 2026
RV parking
On-site RV parking with 30-amp or 50-amp service plus water (no sewer; dump station on the grounds). Verified 2026
- Rate
- $480.00 pre-reserved (arrive after 12:00 noon Saturday, October 31; depart Sunday, November 8) · $60.00 extra after the deadline or without a reservation
- Deadline
- September 30, 2026 or when all 20 spots are reserved
- Reservations
- Robert Gravel, [email protected], (803) 370-2444
Evening events through the week: Pizza & Bingo Night (Monday), the Taco welcome party (Wednesday), the Showcase After-Party (Friday), and the annual awards banquet (Saturday).
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
Entries closed Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific, at BaRay Event Services.
Sources
- Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees, schedule (BaRay Event Services)
- OfficialBaRay Event Services show inventory — club, dates, city/state, entry fees, closing (barayevents.com)
- OfficialPug Dog Club of America national specialty page — judge change (Catterson for Blake), hotel block, RV parking, social events (pugdogclubofamerica.com)
- OfficialAKC event records — club, dates, city/state