National Specialty · Wilmington, Ohio
October 27–28, 2026 — the 90th Staffordshire Terrier Club of America national specialty for American Staffordshire Terriers at Roberts Centre, closing a specialty week that opens October 24
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Documents 📄 Premium list 📋 Judging Program
The Staffordshire Terrier Club of America — the AKC parent club of the American Staffordshire Terrier — holds its 90th National Specialty October 27–28, 2026, at Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. The national caps a five-day specialty week (October 24–28) that opens with a regional specialty and packs in supported-entry obedience and agility, Fast CAT, Fetch and temperament tests, CGC and Trick Dog testing, two rally trials, sweepstakes, futurity and maturity, the first-ever STCA Champion Challenge, a stud dog social, and the club's awards banquet. Judging is indoors and the show is unbenched, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Listing reviewed
The STCA is the AKC parent club for the American Staffordshire Terrier, and its 90th national is the breed's biggest annual gathering. The performance weekend (October 24–25) opens with supported-entry obedience (hosted by the Licking River Kennel Club) and agility (hosted by the Dayton Dog Training Club), on-site Fast CAT, plus Saturday-only Fetch tests, temperament (ATT) tests, Fit Dog, CGC/CGCA/CGCU, and Trick Dog evaluations. Sunday brings two rally trials, then an evening program: regional Junior Showmanship, regional sweepstakes, the inaugural STCA Champion Challenge, and the welcome party. Monday (October 26) is regional specialty day — the regional specialty and 4–6 puppy competition judged by Carla Restivo — plus the parade of titleholders, the general membership meeting, the first-ever stud dog social, and a pizza party. Tuesday (October 27) is national day one: national sweepstakes (Giuseppe Commisso), the national specialty dog and bitch classes (Christine Erickson), a free judges-education seminar on the breed (1:00 PM), Amstaff of the Year, and the awards banquet. Wednesday (October 28) closes with the national futurity and maturity (Gerry Thornton), national juniors, the non-regular classes, the 4–6 puppy competition, and Best of Breed.
Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd.
Five days built around the breed: a performance weekend, a regional specialty, and the two-day national specialty.
01Saturday, October 24
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
02Sunday, October 25
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
03Monday, October 26
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
04Tuesday, October 27
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
05Wednesday, October 28
Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH
Add your dogs, pick this show, and get your ring times in order — class dogs, bitches, and champions factored automatically.
Day-by-day assignments come from the official 2026 premium list and the 2026 judging program. Listing reviewed
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program. Listing reviewed
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program.
The verified judging panel for the 2026 national specialty week. Listing reviewed
All assignments from the official 2026 premium list (Rau Dog Shows).
Junior Showmanship is offered at both the regional (Sunday) and the national (Wednesday) — free entry. Listing reviewed
Junior Showmanship — Adrienne Hill judges. Free entry.
Junior Showmanship — Christine Erickson judges. Free entry.
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 earn points toward their championships. Listing reviewed
Invitation-only: champions and grand champions titled January 1, 2025 – June 1, 2026 compete in male/female classes before a three-judge panel. The trophy winner cannot defend the title the following year. Sunday evening; $25 entry.
Free to enter — presented Tuesday.
Free: teams of three or more American Staffordshire Terriers in consecutive generations, judged as a unit on breeding-program consistency.
Monday evening after the membership meeting — meet potential sires (up-and-coming, tested, and proven) with their owners. Contact Mary Jo Morgan to sign up.
Monday — celebrate titled AmStaffs ($30 per dog, personalized rosette; dogs need not be present).
Reserve Winners earn points toward championships.
Puppy & veteran sweepstakes ($18); futurity and maturity Wednesday ($18).
Tuesday 1:00 PM — American Staffordshire Terriers, presented by Carla Restivo. Free; ringside mentoring during breed judging.
Care Center Dayton, 6421 Clyo Road, Centerville, OH 45459 — 937-428-0911, open 24/7 (about 21 miles / 30 minutes from the grounds). Also Orchard Veterinary Care, 45 Orchard Rd, Wilmington (937-383-0008) and Country View Pet Hospital, 6574 OH-73, Wilmington (937-382-7387).
Alyssa Janiszak is the official show photographer.
Several campgrounds near Wilmington are listed in the premium — Pine Cove, Kirkwood Camp & Adventure Park, Caesar Creek State Park, Thousand Trails, Maple Grove, Frontier, and Beechwood Acres.
Welcome party (Sunday evening); pizza party (Monday); awards banquet (Tuesday).
Dana Maines — 570-578-6784, [email protected].
