Breed profile · Cocker Spaniel specialty history

Cocker Spaniel specialty history

The full record of the Cocker Spaniel’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.

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2026

National specialty

The 2026 National Specialty — the 49th National Cocker Spaniel Specialty Show — Thursday, July 16–Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Purina Farms Event Center, 300 Checkerboard Loop, Gray Summit, Missouri 63039, under the theme “once upon a time.” The week opened Thursday with the ASC Grooming Competition, AKC Temperament Test (ATT) evaluations, a Cockers-only agility trial, the ASC Futurity, and the Cut-Down, Bred-by-Exhibitor, Veteran, and Owner-Handled sweepstakes, plus a welcome party hosted by Purina and Tonya Higdon in honor of CH CloverCreek’s Goddess of the Hunt, the 2025 Futurity winner. Conformation judging ran Friday, July 17 (all regular classes through Winners Bitch) and Saturday, July 18 (non-regular classes, inter-variety, and Best of Breed), with junior showmanship, a Parade of Champions and Title Holders, and the Top Dog Awards Dinner on Saturday evening. Entries closed Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Event Chair: Linda Bennett. Event Secretary: David Roberts, c/o Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. The national drew 155 dogs and 167 entries in conformation. AKC event 2026110714. (Sources: 2026 revised judging program (American Spaniel Club, via AKC); AKC event search, event 2026110714; American Spaniel Club, 2026 ASC National Cocker Spaniel Specialty Show.)

National specialty judges: April Stich — Black variety and ASCOB variety (Friday, July 17, 2026; Black 46 entries, ASCOB 49 entries). Kyle Robinson — Parti variety and Best of Breed and inter-variety (Saturday, July 18, 2026; Parti 60 entries). Junior Showmanship judge: Mrs. Linda Pitts (2 entries). Sweepstakes judges (Thursday, July 16): Tom Dowell (Veteran sweepstakes, 7 entries; Bred-by-Exhibitor sweepstakes, 23 entries; Owner-Handled sweepstakes, 33 entries) and Maureen Jewett (Cut-Down sweepstakes, 4 entries; Futurity, 28 entries). Obedience judge: Mrs. Leslye Pinnell. Rally judge: Christine Ward. Agility judge: Mary Mullen. Best Junior Handler was Kalli Dobmeier. (Sources: 2026 revised judging program (American Spaniel Club, via AKC); AKC event search, event 2026110714.)

Results (2026 national). Best of Breed: GCHB CH Laurent’s High Tech CGC (“London”), a black-and-tan dog of the Black variety, bred by Laura Moline Heidrich and owned by L. Heidrich, Jeffrey Hanlin Jr., and Mackensie Murphy. Best of Opposite Sex: GCH CH Dune’s Let’s Dance CGC, a Parti variety bitch owned by D. Burke. Best Junior Handler: Kalli Dobmeier. Best of Winners, Winners Dog, and Winners Bitch in each variety were not confirmed in an official source as of November 7, 2026. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2026110714; Jeffrey Hanlin, Best of Breed winner’s photo, 49th National Specialty (Facebook, July 19, 2026); Jeffrey Hanlin, “Introducing London” (Facebook, July 2, 2026).)

Regional specialties

Regional Cocker Spaniel specialties verified for 2026, including the regional specialty that ran with the national in Gray Summit, Missouri:

Zone II Regional Specialty — Sunday, July 19, 2026, Gray Summit, Missouri: hosted by the Cocker Spaniel Specialty Club of Georgia, at the Purina Farms Event Center (AKC event 2026110719). Judge: Mr. Kevin Flinn (Black 43 entries, ASCOB 45 entries, Parti 51 entries). The specialty drew 139 dogs and 155 entries. Best of Breed: GCHB CH Silhouette Normandy Full Circle, a Parti variety dog owned by E. Charles, R. Beinhauer, M. Feltenstein, J. Davis, and L. Pitts. Best of Opposite Sex: CH Silver Star’s Lady In Red, a Parti variety bitch owned by L. Berger. Best Junior Handler: Kalli Dobmeier; Reserve Best Junior Handler: Stella Keimon.

2025

National specialty

The 2025 National Specialty — the 48th National Cocker Spaniel Specialty Show — Thursday, July 17–Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the Purina Farms Event Center, 300 Checkerboard Loop, Gray Summit, Missouri 63039. The show was dedicated to Kathy Patterson. Thursday held the inaugural ASC Grooming Competition, a Cockers-only agility trial, the Cut-Down, Bred-by-Exhibitor, Veteran, and Owner-Handled sweepstakes, the Futurity, and obedience and rally “C” matches. Conformation judging ran Friday, July 18 (all regular classes through Winners Bitch) and Saturday, July 19 (non-regular classes, inter-variety, and Best of Breed), with junior showmanship, a Parade of Champions and Title Holders, and the awards dinner on Saturday. Entries closed Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Event Chair: Nancy Gallant. Show Secretary: David Roberts, c/o Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. The national drew 147 dogs and 164 entries in conformation. AKC event 2025110717. (Sources: 2025 judging program (American Spaniel Club, via Rau Dog Shows); AKC event search, event 2025110717.)

National specialty judges: Mr. Rick Bowling — Black variety and Best of Breed and inter-variety (Black 46 entries). Doug Johnson — ASCOB variety and Parti variety (ASCOB 54 entries, Parti 47 entries). Junior Showmanship judge: Mr. Rick Bowling (2 entries). Best Junior Handler was Kalli Dobmeier, showing Laurent’s Fashion Statement; Reserve Best Junior Handler was Stella Keimon. (Sources: 2025 judging program (American Spaniel Club, via Rau Dog Shows); AKC event search, event 2025110717.)

Results (2025 national). Best of Breed: GCHS CH Laurent’s High Life CGC, an ASCOB variety dog owned by L. Heidrich, M. Rowland, and S. Dyer. Best of Opposite Sex: GCH Monarch N ASA Cause I’m All That, a Black variety bitch owned by A. Anderson and S. Anderson. Black variety Winners Dog and Best of Winners: Riverwood & Brickett’s Checkmate. ASCOB variety Winners Bitch and Best of Winners: Laurent’s High Spirits (L. Heidrich), also Best Bred-by-Exhibitor. Best Veteran: GCHG Bleumoon’s Raspberry Beret. Owner-Handled Best of Breed: CH Laurents High Hopes. Best Junior Handler: Kalli Dobmeier. Parti variety Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, and Best of Winners, Black variety Winners Bitch, and ASCOB variety Winners Dog were not confirmed in an official source as of November 7, 2026. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2025110717; American Spaniel Club Bulletin, September 2025, 2025 National Specialty recap.)

Regional specialties

Regional Cocker Spaniel specialties verified for 2025:

Zone III Regional Specialty — Sunday, July 20, 2025, Gray Summit, Missouri: hosted by the Detroit Cocker Spaniel Club, at the Purina Farms Event Center (AKC event 2025110722). Judge: Mark Ragusa. The specialty drew 121 dogs and 141 entries. Best of Breed: GCHG CH Rejoices To The Point, a Black variety dog owned by J. Stevens, P. Maher, P. Rismyhr, and B. Pike. Best of Opposite Sex: CH Laurent’s High Hopes, an ASCOB variety bitch owned by L. Heidrich and M. Murphy.

2024

National specialty

The 2024 National Specialty — the 47th Cocker Spaniel National Specialty Show — Thursday, July 25–Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Norris-Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905. Thursday held a Cockers-only agility trial, obedience and rally “C” matches, the 4-6 month, Owner-Handler, Cut-Down, Bred-by-Exhibitor, and Veteran sweepstakes, the Futurity, and a Pee Wee Juniors class. Conformation judging ran Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. Entries opened Wednesday, May 8, 2024, and closed Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Event Chair: Stephanie Kaul. Event Secretary: Patricia Shaw. The national drew 122 dogs and 134 entries in conformation. AKC event 2024110715. (Sources: 2024 premium list (American Spaniel Club, via Patricia Shaw Show Services); AKC event search, event 2024110715.)

National specialty judges: Mrs. Mariecel Torres-Young — Black variety and Parti variety through Winners Bitch (Black 40 entries, Parti 36 entries). Mrs. Billie Hayes — ASCOB variety, Parti Best of Variety, Best of Breed, and all non-regular bests, and Junior Showmanship (ASCOB 46 entries; 3 junior showmanship entries). Sweepstakes judges: Astrid Lawrence (Futurity, Cut-Down sweepstakes, Veteran sweepstakes) and Charles Born (4-6 month sweepstakes, Bred-by-Exhibitor sweepstakes, Owner-Handled sweepstakes). Best Junior Handler was Skyler Bannert. (Sources: 2024 judging program (American Spaniel Club, via Patricia Shaw Show Services); AKC event search, event 2024110715.)

Results (2024 national). Best of Breed: GCHS CH Silhouette Blacklight, a Black variety dog owned by E. Charles, S. Kaul, M. Feltenstein, C. Douglas, R. Beinhauer, L. Werneck, and L. Pitts. Best of Opposite Sex: Silver Star’s Catching Fire, a Parti variety bitch owned by L. Berger. Best Junior Handler: Skyler Bannert. Best of Winners, Winners Dog, and Winners Bitch in each variety were not confirmed in an official source as of November 7, 2026. (Source: AKC event search, event 2024110715.)

Regional specialties

Regional Cocker Spaniel specialties verified for 2024:

Zone IV Regional Specialty — Sunday, July 28, 2024, Colorado Springs, Colorado: hosted by the Mission Valley Cocker Spaniel Club, at the Norris-Penrose Event Center. Judge: Eilene White. Best of Breed was not confirmed in an official source as of November 7, 2026.