Breed profile · Afghan Hound specialty history

Afghan Hound specialty history

The full record of the Afghan Hound’s national and regional specialties, year by year — dates, venues, judges, entries, and winners, with sources. The current year is shown in full on the breed profile; this page is the archive.

← Back to the Afghan Hound breed profile

2026

National specialty

The 89th National Specialty — Tuesday to Friday, October 20–23, 2026, at the Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington, Ohio — the conformation centerpiece of a national week themed “A Century to Remember,” marking 100 years of AKC recognition for the breed, with agility, obedience, rally, lure coursing, LGRA racing, sweepstakes, the 29th Triathlon, Junior Showmanship, and the Parade of Rescue, Parade of Veterans, and Liberty Class. Entries closed October 7, 2026. Show Chair: Rachel A. Howard. Show Secretary: MAC Dog Shows LLC. (Sources: 2026 AHCA National Specialty; official premium list.)

National specialty judges: Mr. Michael Canalizo of Palm Harbor, Florida — regular and non-regular classes, Best of Breed, and Junior Showmanship. Sweepstakes (all) and Triathlon: Ms. Laura Mauldin of Fort Mill, South Carolina. Obedience and rally: Ms. Patricia Strong of Indianapolis, Indiana. Agility: Mr. David Mancino of Pataskala, Ohio. Lure coursing: Ms. Anne Midgarden of Wapakoneta, Ohio and Ms. Jan Swayze-Curry of Columbia, Kentucky. (Sources: 2026 AHCA National Specialty; official premium list.)

The week: agility, lure coursing, and LGRA racing Tuesday, October 20; agility and lure coursing Wednesday, October 21; obedience, rally, sweepstakes, and the Triathlon Thursday, October 22; the national specialty conformation Friday, October 23 — regular and non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, Intersex, Stud Dog and Brood Bitch, Best Puppy, Best Bred-By, Brace, and Best of Breed, with the Parade of Rescue, Parade of Veterans, and Liberty Class. Regional specialties from the Finger Lakes and Midwest Afghan Hound clubs Saturday, October 24. Host hotel: Holiday Inn — Roberts Centre, $159 a night, booking code H3A. (Sources: 2026 AHCA National Specialty; official judging program.)

Winners from the 2026 specialty had not been published in an official source as of November 2026 and will be added here when they are.

Regional specialties

Finger Lakes Afghan Hound Club Regional Specialty — Saturday, October 24, 2026, Roberts Centre, Wilmington, Ohio, the day after the national specialty. (Source: official premium list.)
Midwest Afghan Hound Club Regional Specialty — Saturday, October 24, 2026, Roberts Centre, Wilmington, Ohio, the day after the national specialty. (Source: official judging program.)