National Specialty · Topeka, Kansas
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States National Specialty 2026
October 10–17, 2026 — eight days of Ridgebacks: sweepstakes, breed judging, Junior Showmanship, obedience, rally, lure coursing, agility, Fast CATs, scentwork, and the Top 25 at the Hotel Topeka at City Center in Topeka, Kansas
Weekend at a glance
The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States hosts its 94th National Specialty October 10–17, 2026, at the Hotel Topeka at City Center in Topeka, Kansas — a full week that opens with the board meeting and Fast CATs and runs through breed judging, sweepstakes, Junior Showmanship, obedience and rally, the Best Ridge competition, the Top 25, and Saturday's AKC lure coursing trial.
Dates
October 10–17, 2026
Saturday through Saturday
Venue
Hotel Topeka at City Center
1717 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, KS 66612
Host club
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Inc.
AKC parent club for the Rhodesian Ridgeback
Superintendent
Rau Dog Shows
Diana Komarek, Event Secretary · 2509 SW Chauncy Dr, Topeka, KS 66614
Entries
Registration closed
Closed Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT · all events unbenched and indoors
Format
94th National Specialty week
Breed judging, sweepstakes, Juniors, obedience, rally, lure coursing, agility, Fast CATs, scentwork, Endurance Trial, Top 25
Premium list
2026 national specialty info packet (PDF) Verified 2026
Enter the national
- Entry services
- Rau Dog Shows — conformation, obedience, and rally entries via Rau Entry Services (raudogshows.com)
- Closing
- Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
- Conformation first entry
- $37.00
- Conformation 2nd entry, same dog
- $32.00
- Puppy (up to 12 months) & Bred by Exhibitor
- $32.00
- Sweepstakes (puppy, junior & veteran)
- $28.00
- 4–6 Month Puppy
- $15.00
- Junior Showmanship
- No entry fee
- Obedience first entry
- $37.00
- Obedience 2nd entry, same dog
- $32.00
- Rally first entry
- $37.00
- Rally 2nd entry, same dog
- $32.00
- Scentwork
- $40.00
- Fast CAT
- $25.00 pre-entry / $30.00 day-of
- Best Ridge Competition
- $20.00
- Canine Good Citizen
- $25.00
- Endurance Trial
- $25.00
- Triathlon
- $15.00
- Parade of Rescues
- No entry fee
Lure coursing, agility, scentwork, and Fast CAT have separate entry forms, fees, and event secretaries — their own premiums are at the end of the info packet with their own closing dates.
The days
The tentative day-by-day schedule for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Saturday, October 10 | RRCUS Board Meeting (9A–4P); Fast CATs 1 & 2 (8A–3P, on site) |
| Sunday, October 11 | Agility (8A–5P, Blue Springs, MO); Fast CATs 3 & 4 (8A–3P, on site); welcome check-in (10A–3P); rally/obedience practice (3P–5P); crating and vendor set-up (4P–7P) |
| Monday, October 12 | Obedience (8A); CGC/CGCA/Trick Dog (8A); Breeder & Veterans Celebration (5P–6P); Veteran Sweepstakes (6P) |
| Tuesday, October 13 | Endurance Trial (6A, Shawnee Lake); Rally (8A); Sweepstakes and Juniors Sweepstakes (8A); Scentwork (8A–5P); Chuck a Duck (noon); 4 to 6 Month Puppy and Triathlon Conformation (to follow); Awards Dinner (6P) and Awards Ceremony (7P) |
| Wednesday, October 14 | Breed Judging — Dogs (8A); Health & Genetics Survey Results (noon); Veteran Dog, Non-Regular Dog, Stud Dog, and Brace classes (to follow); Breeder's Education Seminar and Junior's Handling Seminar (4P); Annual Meeting Dinner (6P) and Annual Meeting (7P) |
| Thursday, October 15 | Breed Judging — Bitches (8A); Judges Education / Ringside Mentoring (8A); Best Ridge (noon); Veteran Bitch, Non-Regular Bitch, and Brood Bitch classes (to follow); Judge's Hands-on (4P); Parade of ET & Parade of Rescues (6P); Top 25 Event (7P) |
| Friday, October 16 | Junior Showmanship Judging (8A); Breed Judging — Best of Breed (8:30A); Best Veteran, Best Bred By, Best Puppy, Best NOHS (to follow) |
| Saturday, October 17 | AKC Lure Coursing (7A, Jacomo State Park) |
The club marks this schedule tentative. Verified 2026
Today’s Ring Card
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. Verified 2026
- Breed classes
- Mrs. Denise Flaim
- Sweepstakes (puppy, junior & veteran), stud dog, brood bitch & brace
- Mrs. Tammy Lynch
- Junior Showmanship
- Mrs. Ann Meyer
- 4–6 Month Puppy
- Dr. Ryan Buzard
- Obedience & rally
- Mr. Russell Hornfisher
- Triathlon conformation
- Ms. Sally Fineburg
- Best Ridge — dog
- Ms. Erin Prendergast
- Best Ridge — bitch
- Mrs. Annette Ernst
- Best Overall Ridge in Show
- Mrs. Jane Gentzen
- Agility
- Mrs. Karen Winter
- Lure coursing
- Ms. Sabrina Hiller · Mr. Tom Golcher
- Scentwork
- Ms. Kathy Echols · Ms. Laura Stoltzfus
Judges announced in the club's official 2026 national specialty info packet. Verified 2026
Juniors
Junior Showmanship judging runs Friday morning, with juniors sweepstakes earlier in the week. Verified 2026
- Junior Showmanship (Friday, October 16)
- Mrs. Ann Meyer — no entry fee
- Juniors Sweepstakes (Tuesday, October 13)
- Mrs. Tammy Lynch
- 4 to 6 Month Puppy (Tuesday, October 13)
- Dr. Ryan Buzard
The Junior's Handling Seminar runs Wednesday at 4P.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event.
- Event
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hound Group)
- Type
- 94th National Specialty
- Host club
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Inc.
- Dates
- October 10–17, 2026 — Topeka, Kansas
Special attractions include the Endurance Trial, Triathlon, Scentwork, the Best Ridge competition, the Top 25 event, Best Veteran, Best Bred By, Best Puppy, and Best NOHS. Verified 2026
Plan your visit
Host hotel
The show's home base is the Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, KS 66612 — local (785) 431-7200. All events are unbenched and indoors; show hours are 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
- Agility hotel block (Blue Springs, MO)
- Sonesta Essential Hotel and Suites, 3120 NW Jefferson, Blue Springs, MO — 816-224-1122 — Rhodesian Ridgeback Agility block, Group ID G1072, $99/night with a flat $25 pet fee and up to 4 dogs per room; block released September 25, 2026
The info packet doesn't list a room rate or room-block details for the main week in Topeka. Pending
Show veterinarian
- On call (daytime)
- University Veterinary Care Center — 2619 SW 17th St, Topeka, KS 66604 — (785) 233-3185 (Mon–Fri 8A–6P, Sat 8A–noon)
- After hours
- Emergency Animal Clinic of Topeka — 5501 SW 29th St, Suite 3 — (785) 272-2926
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
- 2026 national specialty info packet (PDF) Verified 2026
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States — rrcus.org Verified 2026
Sources
- Official2026 national specialty info packet (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory (apps.akc.org) — dates and city cross-check