Basset Hound Club of America National Specialty 2026

The Basset Hound Club of America hosts its 2026 National Specialty October 9–16, 2026, at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tennessee. The eight-day week runs the full hound gamut: hunting performance test, field trial, tracking, scent work, futurity and maturity, obedience and rally trials, agility, sweepstakes, the national specialty conformation (all classes judged on a ramp), Junior Showmanship, and a parade of veterans — with independent specialties from Kentuckiana and Mid-South BHCs early in the week.

Enter the national

Event secretary

Christine Allen — online entries at run4funtn.net (credit card or PayPal), or mail with checks payable to BHCA

Closing

Friday, September 11, 2026, 12:00 noon Central

Conformation first entry

$34.00

Each additional entry (same dog, same event)

$26.00

Puppy classes (6–9 & 9–12 mos.) & puppy Bred-By-Exhibitor

$26.00

Sweepstakes

$26.00 (must be entered in a regular class)

Veteran sweepstakes

$26.00

Non-regular class (as only entry / as additional entry)

$34.00 / $26.00

Brace (per unit)

$34.00

Junior Showmanship

No fee

Futurity & Maturity classes

$20.00

Parade of Veterans

$20.00

Obedience / Rally first entry

$34.00

Obedience / Rally additional entry

$26.00

Eight days from the hunting performance test to the final Best of Breed — field work first, then the arena events. Verified 2026

Show hours are 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time. All judging is held indoors, and all conformation classes are judged on a ramp. Verified 2026

Your show-day schedule, saved by date.

The verified judging slate for the 2026 national specialty week. Verified 2026

Best of Breed / Best Owner-Handled / Best Bred-By

Brian Pechtold

Dogs

Rudy Smits, DVM

Bitches & Junior Showmanship

Sharon Dok

Sweepstakes

Marianne Lovejoy

Futurity & Maturity

Katy Vergeront

Obedience

Cheryl Tisdale

Rally

Julia R. Johnson

Agility

Michele Fletcher

Scent work

Melody Fair · Roy Fair · Darlayne Jewell · Melanie Herbst

Tracking

Roy Fair · Ronald Seeley

Field trial

M. Todd Odle · Carrie Campbell

Judges from the Basset Hound Club of America's 2026 premium list. Verified 2026

Junior Showmanship is part of the national specialty, judged by Sharon Dok — and it is free to enter. Verified 2026

Junior Showmanship

Sharon Dok — with the national specialty conformation

Junior Showmanship fee

No fee

The week also includes a Parade of Veterans ($20.00 entry). Day-by-day Junior Showmanship assignments arrive with the judging program.

The specialty spotlight for this event.

Event

Basset Hound Club of America National Specialty 2026

Breed

Basset Hound (Hound Group)

Type

National specialty week — national + Kentuckiana and Mid-South BHC independent specialties

Host club

Basset Hound Club of America

Dates

October 9–16, 2026 — Lebanon, Tennessee

Co-host hotels

The premium lists two co-host hotels in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Candlewood Suites

110 Willard Hagan Dr., Lebanon, TN 37090 — $109/night plus tax (any room). Block cutoff August 10, 2026. Maximum 2 dogs per room; $75.00 non-refundable pet fee per room for the stay.

Fairfield Inn & Suites

1145 Franklin Rd., Lebanon, TN 37090 — $125/night plus tax (any room). Block cutoff September 10, 2026. Maximum 4 dogs per room; $200.00 non-refundable pet fee per room for the stay; complimentary breakfast buffet.

Plastic sheeting under crates, and all dogs crated when alone in the room, are required at both hotels.

RV parking

Rate

$50.00 per night — full-service hookups at the fairgrounds

Reservation deadline

September 11, 2026

Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026

• 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026

Entries closed Friday, September 11, 2026, at 12:00 noon Central.

• Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees, entries closing September 11, 2026 at 12:00 noon Central, co-host hotels, RV parking
• OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory (apps.akc.org) — dates and city cross-check