Breed profile · Shetland Sheepdog specialty history
Shetland Sheepdog specialty history
The full record of the Shetland Sheepdog’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 93rd Annual National Specialty, Wednesday, April 1, through Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Purina Farms, 300 Checkerboard Drive, Gray Summit, Missouri, in the middle of a national week running March 27–April 4. Entry: 436 dogs (185 dogs, 251 bitches); whole event 517 entries / 434 competitors. Entries opened Sunday, February 1, 2026; closed Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Event Chair: Sheryl Kendrick. Event Secretary: Lorraine Yu (DogZibit). The week around the national: agility Friday, March 27; rally Saturday, March 28; Futurity Monday, March 30, with the Welcome Party that evening; the Top 20 competition Tuesday, March 31; class judging Wednesday through Friday, April 1–3; Best of Breed judging Saturday, April 4, with visiting hours and a best-decorated-grooming-space contest Thursday, April 2. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2026140106; ASSA National, Conformation.)
National specialty judges: Dr. Albert P. Bianchi — Winners Dog. Mrs. Amy Massey — Best of Winners and Best of Opposite Sex. Top 20 panel: Lyn Leininger, Tracy Gensler, and Matt McMillan. Dr. A P Bianchi — Junior Showmanship. Best Junior Handler: Demery Livingston; Reserve Best Junior Handler: Tara Crowley. (Sources: ShowScene, April 15, 2026; ShowScene, June 17, 2026; AKC event search, event 2026140106.)
Results (2026 national). Best of Opposite Sex: MBISS MBIS NOHSG GCHS Laureate Ode To Joy (“Joy”), also the unanimous Top 20 winner. Winners Dog and Best of Winners: Laureate Hamilton (new champion). Best of Breed: not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026. (Sources: ShowScene, April 15, 2026; ShowScene, June 17, 2026.)
Regional specialties
Two regional specialties verified from show reports so far for 2026, both won Best in Specialty Show by the same bitch, MBISS MBIS NOHSG GCHS Laureate Ode To Joy (“Joy”):
- Kentuckiana Shetland Sheepdog Club specialties — Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, 2026: Best in Specialty Show both days: GCHS Laureate Ode To Joy. (Source: ShowScene, June 17, 2026.)
- Colonial Shetland Sheepdog Club specialty — Friday, May 29, 2026: judge Mrs. Charlotte Clem McGowan. Best in Specialty Show: GCHS Laureate Ode To Joy. (Source: ShowScene, June 17, 2026.)
2025
National specialty
The 2025 National Specialty — the 92nd Annual National Specialty, Wednesday, April 16, through Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N 14th Ave, Greeley, Colorado, in the middle of a national week running April 11–19. Entry: 335 dogs (141 dogs, 194 bitches); whole event 411 entries / 335 competitors. Entries opened Wednesday, January 1, 2025; closed Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Event Chair: Sheryl Kendrick. Event Secretary: Lorraine Yu (DogZibit). Best of Breed judging Saturday, April 19. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2025140106; 2025 premium list.)
National specialty judges: Mrs. L Bianchi — Junior Showmanship. Best Junior Handler: Fallyn Riney; Reserve Best Junior Handler: Tara Crowley. (Source: AKC event search, event 2025140106.)
Results (2025 national). Best of Breed: not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026.
Regional specialties
No regional specialties recorded for 2025.