National Specialty · Lebanon, Tennessee
Basset Hound Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 9–16, 2026 — eight days of Basset Hounds: futurity and maturity, sweepstakes, Junior Showmanship, obedience, rally, agility, tracking, scent work, field trials, and the national specialty conformation
Weekend at a glance
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.
- Dates
- October 9–16, 2026
- Venue
- Wilson County Fairgrounds — James E. Ward Agricultural Center
- Host club
- Basset Hound Club of America
- Format
- National specialty week
- Entries
- Registration closed
- Premium list
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
More about this show
Verified 2026 Approved Premium published · Dates, venue, fees & closing verified from the premium · 322 Tooley Branch Rd, Westmoreland, TN 37186 · 615-406-8220 · ruff.entries@gmail.com
- Dates
- Friday through Friday
- Venue
- 945 East Baddour Parkway, Lebanon, TN 37087
- Host club
- AKC parent club for the Basset Hound
- Format
- Basset Hound (Hound Group); futurity & maturity, sweepstakes, Juniors, obedience, rally, agility, tracking, scent work, field trials
- Entries
- Closed Friday, September 11, 2026, at 12:00 noon Central
Event secretary: Christine Allen
Enter the show
Entry fees are per dog, per show.
- 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
The days
Eight days from the hunting performance test to the final Best of Breed — field work first, then the arena events. Verified 2026
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 9 | Hunting Performance Test (club event) |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Field trial |
| Sun, Oct 11 | Field trial; tracking (TD, TDX, VST, TDU) |
| Mon, Oct 12 | Scent work (all-breed, Bassets given priority); Kentuckiana BHC independent specialty |
| Tue, Oct 13 | Futurity & Maturity; obedience trial; agility trial; Mid-South BHC independent specialty |
| Wed, Oct 14 | National specialty conformation begins; sweepstakes; agility trial |
| Thu, Oct 15 | National specialty conformation; obedience & rally trials |
| Fri, Oct 16 | National specialty conformation concludes |
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
Today’s Ring Card
Your show-day schedule, saved by date.
Ring assignments and start times are in the judging program above. We never guess ring times.
Breed Judge Finder
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
Juniors
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.
Specialties & supported entries
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
Plan your visit
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
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
- Judging program (PDF) — Basset Hound Club of America National, Mon–Fri Oct 12–16, 2026 (show secretary, run4funtn.net) Verified 2026
Entries closed Friday, September 11, 2026, at 12:00 noon Central.
Sources
- 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