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What is this show?

Every breed has one week that matters more than all the rest: its national specialty. For the Alaskan Malamute, that week belongs to the Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc. (AMCA) — the AKC parent club for the breed, and the host of this event.

The 2026 edition is a doubleheader: the Midwest Regional Specialty (Monday–Tuesday, October 19–20) and the National Specialty (Thursday–Saturday, October 22–24), two shows in one location at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield, Missouri. The national’s Best of Breed winners become the top Malamutes in the country for 2026. This year’s national specialty is dedicated to the Midwest-area AMCA members the club has lost since 2019.

It’s also part of the AKC National Owner/Handler Series, so owner-handlers can compete for series recognition alongside the regular classes.

Why go?

You don’t have to be showing a dog to get something out of national specialty week. Here’s what makes it worth the trip:

See the best Malamutes in the country. Saturday’s National Best of Breed is the breed’s championship moment — the finest Malamutes competing head to head, from puppies in sweepstakes to veterans. If you own one Malamute and love the breed, there is no better place to watch.

Meet breeders, not just dogs. Responsible breeders come from across the country. If you’re thinking about adding a Malamute to your family — or your breeding program — this is where you meet them in person, see their dogs, and ask questions you can’t ask over email.

Weight pull, up close. Malamutes were bred to haul. The national weight pull runs Thursday morning outdoors, with a novice seminar before it — a rare chance to watch these dogs do the work they were built for.

The Top 20 Gala. Thursday evening, the top twenty Malamutes are showcased at the gala and banquet — the breed’s black-tie night.

Learn something. The week is packed with education: a breeder’s seminar by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, a critique-and-mentorship session, a health committee seminar, a handling clinic open to everyone, and judges’ education with hands-on workshops.

Day by day

The schedule is subject to change — the club posts updates at alaskanmalamute.org/national-specialty.

• Sunday, Oct. 18 — Week opener: regional weight-pull seminar and weight pull, grooming setup, welcome party, and a scent work seminar.
• Monday, Oct. 19 — Midwest regional: puppy and veteran sweepstakes, regional dog and bitch classes, and a scent work trial.
• Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Regional 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, and Regional Best of Breed. Handling clinic (open to all), regional and national obedience trials, and an evening health committee seminar.
• Wednesday, Oct. 21 — AMCA annual membership meeting and luncheon, regional and national rally trials, breeder’s education, and the working dog exhibition in the evening.
• Thursday, Oct. 22 — National weight pull outdoors, national puppy and veteran sweepstakes, futurity and maturity stakes, and the Top 20 Gala and banquet in the evening.
• Friday, Oct. 23 — National dog and bitch classes, CGC and Trick Dog testing, the breeder roundtable, judges’ education, and the evening banquet.
• Saturday, Oct. 24 — National 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, and National Best of Breed (plus stud dog, brood bitch, brace, best veteran, best puppy, best bred-by-exhibitor, and best working dog).

Who’s judging?

The judging slate, per the official premium list:

• National specialty conformation (Best of Breed, Juniors, 4–6 Puppy): Mrs. Sharon K. Weston (Medford, OR)
• Midwest regional conformation: Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia (Roswell, GA)
• Sweepstakes: Vicky Jones (regional), Dennis Collins (national)
• Futurity & Maturity stakes: Paula Honigman and Andrea Sautbine
• Obedience & Rally: James Comunale (Ballwin, MO)
• Scent trial: Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins (Springfield, MO)

Full ring times arrive with the official judging program. Find it on the ThePetAdvisor show page for this event.

How to enter (entries are closed)

Entries closed at 12:00 noon Eastern on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, through superintendent Executive Dog Shows. If you didn’t get in, you can’t enter this year — but you can still come and watch. Dog shows are open to the public, and spectators are welcome at the rings.

For reference, 2026 entry fees were $37 for the first entry and $28 for each additional entry of the same dog; sweepstakes and puppy/veteran classes were $28, futurity/maturity stakes were $35, 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy was $22, and Junior Showmanship was free. The full fee table is in the official premium list (PDF).

Staying in Springfield

The show is held at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, 333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806 — (417) 864-7333 — so exhibitors staying there never leave the building. Obedience and rally are held in the hotel ballroom, the scent trial is in the hotel meeting rooms, weight pull is outdoors, and conformation is in the convention center.

The premium lists a room rate of $129 per night (single or double), plus a one-time $75 pet cleaning fee per stay. Dogs are welcome up to four per room; they must be crated when left alone, with plastic or a tarp under the crates.

Frequently asked questions

See the full show page: dates, judges, fees, and the judging program