Breed profile · Labrador Retriever specialty history

Labrador Retriever specialty history

The full record of the Labrador Retriever’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 most recent national specialty ran October 1–2, 2026, at T90 Ranch, 16641 Old Hwy 99 SE, Tenino, Washington, show secretary DogZibit, entries closing September 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM PT. Dogs were judged by Michael Faulkner (Center Cross, Virginia) and bitches by Sharon Celentano (Wallkill, New York); sweepstakes by Kathryn Mines (Columbia, New Jersey) and junior showmanship by Ron Morelos (Palm Springs, California). The national drew 139 dogs and 180 entries; Best Junior Handler was Mia Marsh. The full week ran September 23 to October 2: hunt tests September 23–25, Mt. Rainier Labrador Retriever Club specialties September 27–28, the Central California Labrador Retriever Club specialty September 29, the LRC Regional Specialty September 30, and obedience, rally, agility, and scent work trials through the week, plus a judges-education seminar on the standard on September 30. (Sources: combined premium list, 2026 LRC National Events; AKC event results, event #2026077319; LRC 2026 National Specialty.)

The 2026 Best of Breed winner had not been published in a verifiable source as of November 2026 — results will be added here when they are published.

Regional specialties

Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac — “The Potomac” — April 7–10, 2026, Walkersville, Maryland. The club calls it “the largest single-breed specialty in the world.” Best of Breed: Faith Hyndman; dogs: Linda McGillivray; bitches: Mary McCulloch; sweepstakes: Angela Ewald and Angela Rogalla; non-regular: Richard Powell; juniors: Jessica Craun. Entry counts were not published in a verifiable source.
Labrador Retriever Club of the Pioneer Valley — May 8–9, 2026, 57th and 58th specialties.
Mt. Rainier Labrador Retriever Club — Sunday, September 27, 2026, T90 Ranch, Tenino, Washington (national week): 154 dogs / 167 entries, judge Margaret Brown. Monday, September 28, 2026: 141 dogs / 167 entries, judge Janis Grannemann.
Central California Labrador Retriever Club — Tuesday, September 29, 2026, T90 Ranch, Tenino, Washington (national week). Judge: Jennifer Stotts.
Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. — Regional Specialty — Wednesday, September 30, 2026, T90 Ranch, Tenino, Washington (national week): 149 dogs / 183 entries, judge Cheryl Curtis.
Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Club — 66th Specialty, Friday, October 23, 2026, Dixon, California (Dixon May Fairgrounds, with Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers). Breed judge: Vicki Lord; sweepstakes: Sandi McCue. 67th “Snapshot” Specialty, Saturday, October 24, 2026. Judge: Phil Booth.
Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac — Bare Bones Specialty — Friday, October 23, 2026, Meadow Event Park, Doswell, Virginia (three-day event, October 23–25): 90 dogs / 129 entries. Judges: Dr. Frances O. Smith, Mrs. Pierrette McLean, Mr. Chad Howard.
Dallas–Ft. Worth Labrador Retriever Club — December 4–6, 2026, Alvarado, Texas. Judges: Jennifer Kelly, Ron Kelly, Greg Lynch; sweepstakes: Nicole McCarthy and Beth McCarthy.
Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. — Orlando specialties — Friday, December 11, and Sunday, December 13, 2026, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Judges: Marilyn Little (December 11), Janis Grannemann (December 13); juniors December 11: Tammy Hirstein Stinton. Entries close November 11, 2026, via Onofrio.

2025

National specialty

For comparison, the 2025 National Specialty week was held at Purina Farms, Gray Summit, Missouri.

Regional specialties

No regional specialties recorded for 2025.