National Specialty · Springfield, Missouri
Alaskan Malamute Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 19–24, 2026 — six days of Alaskan Malamutes: the Midwest regional and national specialties, with sweepstakes, futurity and maturity, Junior Showmanship, obedience, rally, scent work, and weight pull
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Documents 📄 Premium List 📋 Judging Program — pending
Weekend at a glance
The Alaskan Malamute Club of America hosts its 2026 National Specialty October 19–24, 2026, at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield, Missouri. The week pairs the Midwest regional specialty (Monday–Tuesday) with the national specialty (Thursday–Saturday), plus puppy and veteran sweepstakes, futurity and maturity stakes, Junior Showmanship, 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, obedience and rally trials, a scent trial, weight pull, the Top 20 gala, and the AMCA annual meeting — with a weight-pull seminar, welcome party, and handling clinic along the way.
- Dates
- October 19–24, 2026
- Venue
- University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
- Host club
- Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc.
- Format
- National specialty week
- Entries
- Registration closed
📰 Read our guide: Alaskan Malamute National Specialty 2026 — what it is, when to go, and why
More about this show
Listing reviewed Registration closed · Dates, venue, fees & closing verified via Executive Dog Shows · 1492 N. Thayer Rd., Lima, OH 45801
- Dates
- Monday through Saturday
- Venue
- 333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806
- Host club
- AKC member club
- Format
- Midwest regional + national specialty; sweepstakes, futurity/maturity, Juniors, obedience, rally, scent, weight pull
- Entries
- Closed Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern
Superintendent: Executive Dog Shows, LLC
Enter the show
Entry fees are per dog, per show.
- Superintendent
- Executive Dog Shows, LLC — entries online at executivedogshows.com
- Closing
- Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 12:00 noon Eastern (closed)
- Conformation first entry
- $37.00
- Conformation additional entry
- $28.00
- Puppy (6–9 & 9–12 mos.) & veterans
- $28.00
- Stud Dog / Brood Bitch
- $28.00
- Brace (per unit, first entry)
- $28.00
- Multi-entry class (additional)
- $22.00
- Puppy & veteran sweepstakes
- $28.00
- Futurity / Maturity stakes
- $35.00
- 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy
- $22.00
- Junior Showmanship
- Free
- Obedience / Rally
- $37.00 first entry / $28.00 additional
The days
Six days from the club's national specialty schedule (subject to change — the club posts updates at alaskanmalamute.org/national-specialty). Listing reviewed
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Mon, Oct 19 | Regional puppy & veteran sweepstakes — Vicky Jones; regional dog & bitch classes — Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia; scent work trial (Arkansas rooms) |
| Tue, Oct 20 | Regional 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, Best of Breed — Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia; regional & national obedience trials — James Comunale |
| Wed, Oct 21 | AMCA annual meeting & luncheon; regional & national rally trials — James Comunale; breeder's education seminar; working dog exhibition in the evening |
| Thu, Oct 22 | National weight pull (outdoors); national puppy & veteran sweepstakes — Dennis Collins; futurity & maturity stakes — Paula Honigman & Andrea Sautbine; Top 20 gala & banquet in the evening |
| Fri, Oct 23 | National dog & bitch classes — Mrs. Sharon K. Weston; CGC, trick dog & scent trial — Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins; judges education; banquet in the evening |
| Sat, Oct 24 | National 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, Best of Breed, stud dog, brood bitch, brace — Mrs. Sharon K. Weston |
Sunday, October 18 opens the week with a regional seminar & weight pull, grooming setup, the welcome party, and a scent work seminar. Day-by-day ring times arrive with the judging program. Listing reviewed
Build your day plan
Add your dogs, pick this show, and get your ring times in order — class dogs, bitches, and champions factored automatically.
Your show-day schedule, saved by date.
Judging program not yet published
No ring times or ring assignments have been verified yet. Ring cards will be built from the official program as soon as it’s out.
Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging slate for the 2026 national specialty week. Listing reviewed
Regional specialty — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 PuppyBest in Show & group judges
- Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
Regional — puppy & veteran sweepstakesBest in Show & group judges
- Vicky Jones
Regional — obedience & rallyBest in Show & group judges
- James Comunale
National specialty — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 PuppyBest in Show & group judges
- Mrs. Sharon K. Weston
National — puppy & veteran sweepstakesBest in Show & group judges
- Dennis Collins
National — obedience & rallyBest in Show & group judges
- James Comunale
National — futurity & maturityBest in Show & group judges
- Paula Honigman · Andrea Sautbine
Scent trialBest in Show & group judges
- Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins
Judges announced by the Alaskan Malamute Club of America in the 2026 premium list.
Juniors
Junior Showmanship runs at both the regional and the national specialty. Listing reviewed
- Regional Junior Showmanship (Tue)
- Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
- National Junior Showmanship (Sat)
- Mrs. Sharon K. Weston
Junior Showmanship is free, both as a first entry and as an additional entry. 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy is offered at both specialties — regional judge Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, national judge Mrs. Sharon K. Weston.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event. Listing reviewed
- Event
- Alaskan Malamute Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Alaskan Malamute (Working Group)
- Type
- National specialty week — two specialties, one location
- Host club
- Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc.
- Dates
- October 19–24, 2026 — Springfield, Missouri
- Midwest regional specialty
- Monday–Tuesday, October 19–20 — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Puppy: Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia; sweepstakes: Vicky Jones
- National specialty
- Thursday–Saturday, October 22–24 — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Puppy: Mrs. Sharon K. Weston; sweepstakes: Dennis Collins; futurity/maturity: Paula Honigman & Andrea Sautbine
- Performance
- Obedience & rally: James Comunale · scent trial: Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins · weight pull (seminar Sunday, national trial Thursday)
Plan your visit
Host hotel
The national specialty host hotel is the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, 333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806 — (417) 864-7333. Obedience and rally are in the hotel ballroom, the scent trial is in the hotel meeting rooms, weight pull is outdoors, and conformation is in the convention center. Listing reviewed
The premium does not state a group rate or room block cutoff. Show hours are 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Sources
- Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees
- OfficialExecutive Dog Shows show inventory — club, dates, city/state (executivedogshows.com)
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory (apps.akc.org) — dates and city cross-check