Staffordshire Terrier Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 27–28, 2026 — the 90th Staffordshire Terrier Club of America national specialty for American Staffordshire Terriers at Roberts Centre, closing a specialty week that opens October 24
The Staffordshire Terrier Club of America — the AKC parent club of the American Staffordshire Terrier — holds its 90th National Specialty October 27–28, 2026, at Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. The national caps a five-day specialty week (October 24–28) that opens with a regional specialty and packs in supported-entry obedience and agility, Fast CAT, Fetch and temperament tests, CGC and Trick Dog testing, two rally trials, sweepstakes, futurity and maturity, the first-ever STCA Champion Challenge, a stud dog social, and the club's awards banquet. Judging is indoors and the show is unbenched, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Verified 2026
Dates
October 27–28, 2026 (specialty week: October 24–28)
Venue
Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177
Host club
Staffordshire Terrier Club of America
Breed
American Staffordshire Terrier
Format
90th National Specialty · indoors, unbenched
Entries
Registration closed — entries closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET
The STCA is the AKC parent club for the American Staffordshire Terrier, and its 90th national is the breed's biggest annual gathering. The performance weekend (October 24–25) opens with supported-entry obedience (hosted by the Licking River Kennel Club) and agility (hosted by the Dayton Dog Training Club), on-site Fast CAT, plus Saturday-only Fetch tests, temperament (ATT) tests, Fit Dog, CGC/CGCA/CGCU, and Trick Dog evaluations. Sunday brings two rally trials, then an evening program: regional Junior Showmanship, regional sweepstakes, the inaugural STCA Champion Challenge, and the welcome party. Monday (October 26) is regional specialty day — the regional specialty and 4–6 puppy competition judged by Carla Restivo — plus the parade of titleholders, the general membership meeting, the first-ever stud dog social, and a pizza party. Tuesday (October 27) is national day one: national sweepstakes (Giuseppe Commisso), the national specialty dog and bitch classes (Christine Erickson), a free judges-education seminar on the breed (1:00 PM), Amstaff of the Year, and the awards banquet. Wednesday (October 28) closes with the national futurity and maturity (Gerry Thornton), national juniors, the non-regular classes, the 4–6 puppy competition, and Best of Breed.
Week
Saturday, October 24 – Wednesday, October 28
National
Tuesday, October 27 – Wednesday, October 28
Venue
Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177 — off I-71, Exit 50 (US-68)
Host club
AKC parent club for the American Staffordshire Terrier
Superintendent:Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd.
Enter the show
Superintendent
Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd., P.O. Box 6898, Reading, PA 19610 — online entries at raudog.co/entries
Closing
Registration closed — entries closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET
Fees
$38 first entry / $18 additional entry of the same dog; Junior Showmanship free; sweepstakes, 4–6 beginner puppy, futurity/maturity $18; STCA Champions Challenge $25; Amstaff of the Year and Generations Class free
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02
The days
Five days built around the breed: a performance weekend, a regional specialty, and the two-day national specialty.
01Saturday, October 24
Performance day 1
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
Supported-entry obedience (Licking River KC) & agility (Dayton Dog Training Club) · Fast CAT on site · Fetch (2 tests), ATT (2 tests), Fit Dog, CGC/CGCA/CGCU, Trick Dog evaluations
02Sunday, October 25
Performance day 2 · regional evening
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
Fast CAT · Two rally trials (Jill Lowry, Anita Eisthen) · Evening: regional juniors (Adrienne Hill), regional sweepstakes (Gina Datillo), inaugural STCA Champion Challenge, welcome party
03Monday, October 26
Regional specialty
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
Regional specialty & 4–6 puppy (Carla Restivo) · Parade of titleholders · General membership meeting · First-ever stud dog social · Pizza party
04Tuesday, October 27
National specialty, day 1
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
National sweepstakes (Giuseppe Commisso) · National dog & bitch classes (Christine Erickson) · Judges-education seminar, free, 1:00 PM · Amstaff of the Year · Awards banquet
05Wednesday, October 28
National specialty, day 2
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
National futurity/maturity (Gerry Thornton) · National juniors · Non-regular classes · 4–6 puppy (Christine Erickson) · Best of Breed
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program. Verified 2026
Sat Oct 24 — Supported-entry obedience (Licking River Kennel Club); supported-entry agility (Dayton Dog Training Club); Fast CAT (on site); Fetch x2, ATT x2, Fit Dog, CGC/CGCA/CGCU, Trick Dog
Sun Oct 25 — Fast CAT; rally trials x2 (Jill Lowry, Anita Eisthen); evening: regional juniors (Adrienne Hill), regional sweepstakes (Gina Datillo), STCA Champion Challenge, welcome party
Mon Oct 26 — Regional specialty & 4–6 puppy (Carla Restivo); parade of titleholders; membership meeting; stud dog social; pizza party
Tue Oct 27 — National sweepstakes (Giuseppe Commisso); national dog & bitch classes (Christine Erickson); breed seminar 1:00 PM (free); Amstaff of the Year; awards banquet
Wed Oct 28 — National futurity/maturity (Gerry Thornton); national juniors; non-regular classes; 4–6 puppy (Christine Erickson); Best of Breed
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program.
04
Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging panel for the 2026 national specialty week. Verified 2026
National specialty — breed, BPUP & juniors (Tue–Wed)
Christine Erickson
National sweepstakes (Tue Oct 27)
Giuseppe Commisso
National futurity / maturity (Wed Oct 28)
Gerry Thornton
Regional specialty & BPUP (Mon Oct 26)
Carla Restivo
Regional sweepstakes (Sun Oct 25)
Gina Datillo
Regional juniors (Sun Oct 25)
Adrienne Hill
Fetch & ATT (Sat Oct 24)
Tanner J. Flood
Rally trials (Sun Oct 25)
Jill Lowry (Trial 1)
Anita Eisthen (Trial 2)
All assignments from the official 2026 premium list (Rau Dog Shows).
05
Juniors
Junior Showmanship is offered at both the regional (Sunday) and the national (Wednesday) — free entry. Verified 2026
Sun Oct 25 — Regional
Junior Showmanship — Adrienne Hill judges. Free entry.
Beyond the regular classes: the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) is a separate competition for dogs handled by their owners — no professional handlers — and points for Reserve means Reserve Winners earn points toward their championships. Verified 2026
STCA Champion Challenge (inaugural)
Invitation-only: champions and grand champions titled January 1, 2025 – June 1, 2026 compete in male/female classes before a three-judge panel. The trophy winner cannot defend the title the following year. Sunday evening; $25 entry.
Amstaff of the Year
Free to enter — presented Tuesday.
Generations Class
Free: teams of three or more American Staffordshire Terriers in consecutive generations, judged as a unit on breeding-program consistency.
Stud Dog Social (first-ever)
Monday evening after the membership meeting — meet potential sires (up-and-coming, tested, and proven) with their owners. Contact Mary Jo Morgan to sign up.
Parade of Titleholders
Monday — celebrate titled AmStaffs ($30 per dog, personalized rosette; dogs need not be present).
Points for Reserve
Reserve Winners earn points toward championships.
Sweepstakes / futurity / maturity
Puppy & veteran sweepstakes ($18); futurity and maturity Wednesday ($18).
Judges-education seminar
Tuesday 1:00 PM — American Staffordshire Terriers, presented by Carla Restivo. Free; ringside mentoring during breed judging.
Indoors, unbenched — show hours 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Off I-71 at Exit 50 (US-68); Gano Road is immediately west of the interchange.
Hotels
Holiday Inn at Roberts Centre
123 Gano Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177 Host hotel — on the show grounds.
Hampton Inn & Suites Wilmington
201 Holiday Drive, Wilmington, OH 45177 — 937-382-4400 Pet-friendly option near the grounds.
Holiday Inn Express Wilmington
155 Holiday Drive, Wilmington, OH 45177 — 937-382-5858 Pet-friendly option near the grounds.
Emergency vets
Care Center Dayton, 6421 Clyo Road, Centerville, OH 45459 — 937-428-0911, open 24/7 (about 21 miles / 30 minutes from the grounds). Also Orchard Veterinary Care, 45 Orchard Rd, Wilmington (937-383-0008) and Country View Pet Hospital, 6574 OH-73, Wilmington (937-382-7387).
Photographer
Alyssa Janiszak is the official show photographer.
Campgrounds
Several campgrounds near Wilmington are listed in the premium — Pine Cove, Kirkwood Camp & Adventure Park, Caesar Creek State Park, Thousand Trails, Maple Grove, Frontier, and Beechwood Acres.
Social events
Welcome party (Sunday evening); pizza party (Monday); awards banquet (Tuesday).