National Specialty · Topeka, Kansas
Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026
November 2–7, 2026 — six days of Pugs in Topeka: two regional specialties, sweepstakes, Junior Showmanship, obedience, rally, an onsite agility trial, and the national specialty
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Documents 📄 Premium List 📋 Judging Program — Nov 2–7
Weekend at a glance
The Pug Dog Club of America hosts its 2026 National Specialty November 2–7, 2026, at the Hotel Topeka At City Center in Topeka, Kansas — six days built around the “Follow The Yellow Brick Road” theme. The week opens with two regional specialties (Monday and Tuesday), runs regional and national sweepstakes midweek, adds an onsite pug-only agility trial and two scent work trials on Wednesday, and closes with the national specialty on Friday and Saturday, ending with the annual awards banquet Saturday night.
- Dates
- November 2–7, 2026
- Venue
- Hotel Topeka At City Center
- Host club
- Pug Dog Club of America, Inc.
- Format
- National specialty + 2 regional specialties
- Entries
- Registration closed (entries closed October 14, 2026)
🥄 Read our guide: Pug Dog Club of America 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 BaRay Event Services · Judge change: Mr. Eugene Blake withdrew for health reasons; Mr. Timothy Catterson judges the national specialty
- Dates
- Monday through Saturday
- Venue
- 1717 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612
- Host club
- AKC member club
- Format
- Pug (Toy Group) — national + two regional specialties; sweepstakes, Juniors, obedience, rally, agility, scent work
- Entries
- Closed Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific
Superintendent: BaRay Event Services, Inc. · PO Box 508, Burlington, WA 98233 — entries online at barayevents.com; show chair Karen Burgess
Registration closed
- Superintendent
- BaRay Event Services, Inc. — entries online at barayevents.com
- Closing
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 12:00 noon Pacific
- Conformation first entry
- $35.00
- Conformation additional entry
- $28.00
- Puppy classes (6–9 & 9–12 mos.)
- $28.00
- Bred-by-exhibitor (puppy & adult)
- $28.00
- Veteran classes
- $28.00
- Sweepstakes
- $23.00 (must be entered in a regular class)
- Veteran sweepstakes
- $23.00 (need not be entered in a regular class)
- Junior Showmanship
- Free
- Brace (per dog)
- $18.00
- 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy
- $17.00
- Obedience first entry / additional
- $35.00 / $28.00
- Rally first entry / additional
- $35.00 / $28.00
The days
Six days from the club’s national specialty schedule. Listing reviewed
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 2 | Regional #1 — conformation — Mr. Patrick McManus; Junior Showmanship — Kelley Ruffoni; 4–6 Month Puppy (Regional 1) — Mr. Patrick McManus; Rally trial (regional) — Kenneth Kozak; Pizza & Bingo Night (evening) |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Regional #2 — conformation — Mr. David Fitzpatrick; Junior Showmanship — Mr. David Fitzpatrick; 4–6 Month Puppy (Regional 2) — Mr. David Fitzpatrick; Obedience trial (regional) — Kenneth Kozak; AKC Temperament Test |
| Wed, Nov 4 | Sweepstakes (Regional 1) — Michael Anderson; Sweepstakes (Regional 2) — Sarah Ayers; pug-only agility trial; two scent work trials — Laura Stoltzfus; PDCA board meeting; welcome party |
| Thu, Nov 5 | National Sweepstakes & Veteran Sweepstakes — Joy Barbieri; National Obedience — Rick L. Garvin; National Rally — Rick L. Garvin |
| Fri, Nov 6 | National Specialty — conformation through veterans, non-regular classes — Mr. Timothy Catterson; 4–6 Month Puppy Competition — Mr. Timothy Catterson; judges education; Showcase & Showcase After-Party |
| Sat, Nov 7 | National Specialty continued — Mr. Timothy Catterson; Junior Showmanship — Mr. Timothy Catterson; annual awards banquet (evening, cash bar) |
Show hours are 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM each day; all events indoors and unbenched. Day-by-day ring times are in the official 2026 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.
We never guess ring times — build your ring card from the official 2026 judging program above. Listing reviewed
Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging slate for the 2026 national specialty week. Listing reviewed
National specialty — conformation, 4–6 Month Puppy, Junior ShowmanshipBest in Show & group judges
- Mr. Timothy Catterson (replaced Mr. Eugene Blake, who withdrew for health reasons)
Regional #1 (Mon) — conformation & 4–6 Month PuppyBest in Show & group judges
- Mr. Patrick McManus
Regional #1 (Mon) — Junior ShowmanshipBest in Show & group judges
- Kelley Ruffoni
Regional #2 (Tue) — conformation, 4–6 Month Puppy & Junior ShowmanshipBest in Show & group judges
- Mr. David Fitzpatrick
National sweepstakes & veteran sweepstakes (Thu)Best in Show & group judges
- Joy Barbieri
Regional sweepstakes (Wed)Best in Show & group judges
- Michael Anderson (Regional 1)
- Sarah Ayers (Regional 2)
Obedience & rallyBest in Show & group judges
- Rick L. Garvin (national, Thursday)
- Kenneth Kozak (regional, Monday/Tuesday)
Agility & scent workBest in Show & group judges
- Christie Bowers (pug-only agility trial)
- Laura Stoltzfus (scent work trials)
Judges announced by the Pug Dog Club of America in the 2026 premium list and on the club’s national specialty page; the national specialty judge change (Timothy Catterson replacing Eugene Blake) was announced by the club.
Juniors
Junior Showmanship runs at both regionals and the national specialty. Listing reviewed
- Regional #1 Junior Showmanship (Mon)
- Kelley Ruffoni
- Regional #2 Junior Showmanship (Tue)
- Mr. David Fitzpatrick
- National Junior Showmanship (Sat)
- Mr. Timothy Catterson
Junior Showmanship is free as an only or additional class.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event. Listing reviewed
- Event
- Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Pug (Toy Group)
- Type
- National specialty + two regional specialties
- Host club
- Pug Dog Club of America, Inc.
- Dates
- November 2–7, 2026 — Topeka, Kansas
- National specialty
- Friday & Saturday, November 6–7 — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Month Puppy: Mr. Timothy Catterson; sweepstakes: Joy Barbieri
- Regional specialties
- Monday, November 2 — Mr. Patrick McManus; Tuesday, November 3 — Mr. David Fitzpatrick
- Performance
- Obedience & rally (regional and national), pug-only agility trial, two scent work trials, AKC Temperament Test
Plan your visit
Host hotel
The host hotel is the Hotel Topeka At City Center, 1717 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612 — the show’s home base for the week. Listing reviewed
- Group rate
- $129.00 per night ($150.99 with taxes and fees) — book through the official club link; the room block cutoff was October 1, 2026 (limit two rooms per reservation)
- Pet policy
- $75.00 non-refundable pet deposit · maximum six (6) dogs per room · dogs must be crated when left alone · plastic under all crates · no x-pens in rooms
- Deposit
- One-night deposit charged at booking; refundable only through September 28, 2026
RV parking
On-site RV parking with 30-amp or 50-amp service plus water (no sewer; dump station on the grounds). Listing reviewed
- Rate
- $480.00 pre-reserved (arrive after 12:00 noon Saturday, October 31; depart Sunday, November 8) · $60.00 extra after the deadline or without a reservation
- Deadline
- September 30, 2026 or when all 20 spots are reserved
- Reservations
- Robert Gravel, [email protected], (803) 370-2444
Evening events through the week: Pizza & Bingo Night (Monday), the Taco welcome party (Wednesday), the Showcase After-Party (Friday), and the annual awards banquet (Saturday).
Sources
- Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees, schedule (BaRay Event Services)
- OfficialBaRay Event Services show inventory — club, dates, city/state, entry fees, closing (barayevents.com)
- OfficialPug Dog Club of America national specialty page — judge change (Catterson for Blake), hotel block, RV parking, social events (pugdogclubofamerica.com)
- OfficialAKC event records — club, dates, city/state
- Official2026 judging program — Specialty Week, Mon Nov 2–Sat Nov 7 (BaRay Event Services, superintendent-published) Listing reviewed