Bayfront Convention Center
- Address
- 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507
- Hosts
- Hosts the national specialty, October 22–24 (specialty-week events October 19–24).
More about this venue
- Details
- Indoors, unbenched — show hours 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
National Specialty · Erie, Pennsylvania
American Bullmastiff Association National Specialty 2026
October 22–24, 2026 — the 69th American Bullmastiff Association national specialty, closing a specialty week (October 19–24) at the Bayfront Convention Center
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Documents 📄 Premium list 📋 Judging program
01
Weekend at a glance
The American Bullmastiff Association holds its 69th National Specialty October 22–24, 2026, at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania — the close of a full specialty week that opens Monday, October 19, with an independent specialty from the Great Lakes Bullmastiff Association and continues Tuesday with the ABA parent specialty. The week packs in obedience and rally trials, puppy and veteran sweepstakes, the futurity, the Top 25 competition, parades, and an art auction alongside the national conformation judging. Judging is indoors and the show is unbenched, open 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Listing reviewed
- Dates
- October 22–24, 2026 (specialty week: October 19–24)
- Venue
- Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507
- Host club
- American Bullmastiff Association
- Format
- 69th National Specialty · indoors, unbenched
- Entries
- Registration closed — entries closed Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET
More about this show
The 69th annual national specialty of the American Bullmastiff Association. The week opens Monday with the Great Lakes Bullmastiff Association independent specialty and Tuesday with the ABA parent specialty — a full specialty of its own, with Junior Showmanship, sweepstakes, and regular classes. Wednesday brings the national sweepstakes, the 4–6 month beginner puppy competition, and a triathlon, plus the welcome party. Thursday is futurity day plus the class and veteran dog judging, the Top 25 competition, and the Top 25 gala. Friday judges the class and veteran bitches, then the annual meeting, the parades, and the art-auction dinner. Saturday closes the week with beginner puppy, Junior Showmanship, and Best of Breed.
- Week
- Monday, October 19 – Saturday, October 24
- National
- Thursday, October 22 – Saturday, October 24
- Venue
- Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507
- Agility
- Countryside Agility, 5215 Zuck Road, Edinboro, PA (off-site)
- Host club
- AKC parent club for the Bullmastiff
Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd.
Registration closed
- Superintendent
- Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. — online entries at raudog.co/entries
- Closing
- Registration closed — entries closed Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET
- Fees
- Conformation: $40 first entry / $35 additional; puppies 6–12 months $35; Bred-by-Exhibitor (national only) $35; Junior Showmanship free; brace $30 per unit; obedience $35/$30; rally $35/$30; agility $35/$30; sweepstakes $28; futurity free; maturity $30; 4–6 beginner puppy $25; triathlon free; parade of champions $25; veterans/rescue parade free
Registration closed
02
The days
Six days built around the breed: independent and parent specialties, performance trials, sweepstakes, and the national specialty.
01Monday, October 19
Great Lakes Bullmastiff Association independent specialty
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA
02Tuesday, October 20
National obedience & rally trials · ABA parent specialty
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA
03Wednesday, October 21
National sweepstakes · beginner puppy · triathlon
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA
04Thursday, October 22
Futurity · class & veteran dogs · Top 25
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA
05Friday, October 23
Class & veteran bitches · parades · art auction
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA
06Saturday, October 24
Best of Breed
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA
2026 judging program (PDF): Full program — verified 2026
03
Build your day plan
Add your dogs, pick this show, and get your ring times in order — class dogs, bitches, and champions factored automatically.
The official judging program is out — every ring time here comes from it, not from memory. Listing reviewed
- Mon Oct 19 — GLBA sweepstakes 1:00 PM (Lindy Whyte, 37); GLBA regular classes (Thomas J. Davis, 99 dogs / 136 entries)
- Tue Oct 20 — Obedience & rally 8:00 AM (Stephanie T. Podejko); parent specialty juniors 12:30 PM (Cheryl Pike, 5), sweepstakes 1:00 PM (Renee Butler, 39), regular classes (Denise Borton, 107 dogs / 151 entries)
- Wed Oct 21 — Beginner puppy 9:00 AM (Charles Kistler, 13); sweepstakes 10:00 AM (Kelly Whitfield, 52); triathlon 10:00 AM (Tina Thompson)
- Thu Oct 22 — Futurity 9:00 AM (Becky Martin, 24); class & veteran dogs following futurity (Cheryl Kistler, 36)
- Fri Oct 23 — Class & veteran bitches 9:00 AM (Cheryl Kistler, 41)
- Sat Oct 24 — Beginner puppy 8:00 AM (Cheryl Kistler, 13); juniors 8:45 AM (6); Best of Breed 9:15 AM (Cheryl Kistler, 143 dogs / 257 entries)
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program.
04
Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging panel for the 2026 national specialty week. Listing reviewed
National specialty — Best of Breed (Sat Oct 24)Best in Show & group judges
- Cheryl Kistler
National specialty — class & veteran dogs (Thu Oct 22)Best in Show & group judges
- Cheryl Kistler
National specialty — class & veteran bitches (Fri Oct 23)Best in Show & group judges
- Cheryl Kistler
National specialty — futurity (Thu Oct 22)Best in Show & group judges
- Becky Martin
National sweepstakes (Wed Oct 21)Best in Show & group judges
- Kelly Whitfield
National obedience & rally trials (Tue Oct 20)Best in Show & group judges
- Stephanie T. Podejko
National triathlon (Wed Oct 21)Best in Show & group judges
- Tina Thompson
Beginner puppy (Wed Oct 21 & Sat Oct 24)Best in Show & group judges
- Charles Kistler (Wed)
- Cheryl Kistler (Sat)
ABA parent specialty — regular classes (Tue Oct 20)Best in Show & group judges
- Denise Borton
ABA parent specialty — sweepstakes (Tue Oct 20)Best in Show & group judges
- Renee Butler
ABA parent specialty — juniors (Tue Oct 20)Best in Show & group judges
- Cheryl Pike
GLBA independent specialty — regular classes (Mon Oct 19)Best in Show & group judges
- Thomas J. Davis
GLBA independent specialty — sweepstakes (Mon Oct 19)Best in Show & group judges
- Lindy Whyte
All assignments from the official 2026 judging program (Rau Dog Shows).
05
Juniors
Junior Showmanship is offered at the parent specialty on Tuesday and at the national on Saturday — free entry both days. Listing reviewed
Tue Oct 20 — Parent specialty
Junior Showmanship — Cheryl Pike judges (12:30 PM, 5 entries). Free entry.
Sat Oct 24 — National specialty
Junior Showmanship — Cheryl Kistler judges (8:45 AM, 6 entries). Free entry.
06
Specialties & supported entries
Beyond the regular classes: the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) is a separate competition for dogs handled by their owners — no professional handlers — and points for Reserve means Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch earn a 3-point major toward their championships. Listing reviewed
Best Brindle in Show
A Bullmastiff-only honor: the best brindle Bullmastiff in the entry competes for this signature ABA award on Saturday.
Best of Breed Owner-Handled
NOHS competition runs with the national specialty — and with Tuesday's parent specialty too.
Points for Reserve
Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch earn a 3-point major.
Awards of Merit
Offered with Saturday's Best of Breed judging.
Sweepstakes & futurity
National puppy sweepstakes Wednesday (Kelly Whitfield, 52 entries, $28); futurity Thursday (Becky Martin, 24 entries, free); maturity Saturday ($30).
Triathlon
Wednesday 10:00 AM (Tina Thompson) — rewards versatility across events. Free to enter.
Parades
Friday 5:00 PM — parade of champions ($25 entry), plus free veterans and rescue parades.
07
Plan your visit
Venues
Countryside Agility
- Address
- 5215 Zuck Road, Edinboro, PA
- Hosts
- Hosts the agility trials (off-site from the convention center).
Hotels
- Courtyard Erie Bayfront
- 2 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507
Host hotel — attached to the convention center complex.
Getting there
Fly into Buffalo (BUF), about 90 miles; Cleveland (CLE), about 115 miles; or Pittsburgh (PIT), about 130 miles.
Emergency vet
Erie Pet Emergency, 3625 Peach St, Erie — 814-864-8387, open 24 hours.
Photographer
Alyssa Janiszak is the official show photographer.
Health clinic
Dr. Andrew Waxman offers heart echocardiograms Friday, October 23, by reservation — $295.
Catalog & seating
Catalog: $35 pre-order / $40 at the show / $45 marked. Reserved crating $35; ringside seats $30.
Social events
Welcome Fiesta Wednesday ($45); Top 25 Invitational Thursday ($35, semi-formal); art auction Friday; farewell reception Saturday ($25).
Show chair
Cheryl Pike — 978-912-1728, [email protected].
Sources
- OfficialRau Dog Shows — 2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees, closing September 30, 2026, 12:00 noon ET
- OfficialRau Dog Shows — 2026 judging program (PDF) — ring times and entry counts, October 19–24
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory — dates and city cross-check