National Specialty · East Peoria, Illinois
Bulldog Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 25–31, 2026 — a full week of Bulldogs: the Division II prequel show, the national specialty with sweepstakes and Junior Showmanship, obedience and rally trials, and three host-club specialty shows
Weekend at a glance
The Bulldog Club of America hosts its 132nd National Specialty Week October 25–31, 2026, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center in East Peoria, Illinois. The week opens with the Division II prequel show on Sunday, runs the parent club national specialty Monday through Wednesday with puppy sweepstakes, Junior Showmanship, obedience and rally trials, and an AKC Temperament Test, then closes out with host-club specialty shows from Chicago, Western Michigan, and Milwaukee on Thursday through Saturday.
- Dates
- October 25–31, 2026
- Venue
- Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center
- Host club
- Bulldog Club of America
- Format
- National specialty week
- Entries
- Entries open
- 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 · 319 N. Washington St., No. 814, Owosso, MI 48867-5528 · 517-474-3233 · sheltiepam@earthlink.net
- Dates
- Sunday through Saturday
- Venue
- 100 Conference Center Dr., East Peoria, IL 61611
- Host club
- AKC parent club for the Bulldog; with Division II, Chicago, Western Michigan, and Milwaukee host shows
- Format
- Prequel show + national specialty + three host-club specialties; sweepstakes, Juniors, Pee Wee, obedience, rally, AKC Temperament Test
- Entries
- Opened July 29, 2026 · close Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:00 PM Eastern
Event secretary: Pam Moore
Enter the show
Entry fees are per dog, per show.
- Event secretary
- Pam Moore — mail, email (sheltiepam@earthlink.net), or fax (989-723-8939); checks payable to Pam Moore
- Closing
- Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 11:00 PM Eastern
- Conformation first entry
- $35.00
- Additional entry (same dog, same event)
- $30.00
- Puppy classes (6–9 & 9–12 mos.)
- $30.00
- Bred-By-Exhibitor
- $30.00
- Veterans (7+ years)
- $25.00
- Stud Dog / Brood Bitch / Brace
- $25.00
- Junior Showmanship
- Free (no corresponding-class entry required)
- Pee Wee
- Free
- Obedience / Rally first entry
- $35.00
The days
Seven days built around the national: a prequel show to warm up, three days of parent club judging, then three host-club specialties to close the week. Verified 2026
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | BCA Division II prequel show — division specialty with Junior Showmanship, Pee Wee special attraction, obedience trial, rally trial |
| Mon, Oct 26 | National Show — parent club specialty with Junior Showmanship; puppy sweepstakes; obedience trial; rally trial; AKC Temperament Test |
| Tue, Oct 27 | National Show — regular dog and regular bitch judging; AKC Temperament Test |
| Wed, Oct 28 | National Show — Junior Showmanship; intersex, veteran, and non-regular judging |
| Thu, Oct 29 | Chicago Bulldog Club host show — specialty with Junior Showmanship |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Western Michigan Bulldog Club host show — specialty with Junior Showmanship |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Milwaukee Bulldog Club host show — specialty with Junior Showmanship |
Show hours are 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central each day. All judging is indoors and unbenched. 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
Prequel show — Sunday, Oct 25
- Regular dog, Junior Showmanship & Pee Wee: Judy Wade · Regular bitch: Ray Spivey · Intersex, veteran & non-regular: Chuck Spears · Obedience/Rally: Anna Lorenz
National Show — Monday, Oct 26
- Sweepstakes dog: Kelley Ensminger · Sweepstakes bitch & Best in Sweepstakes: Alecia Wagner · Obedience/Rally: Anna Lorenz
National Show — Tuesday, Oct 27
- Regular dog: Rick Franz · Regular bitch: Kelly Franz · AKC Temperament Test: April Paulman & Kelly Rosson
National Show — Wednesday, Oct 28
- Junior Showmanship: Corri Long · Intersex, veteran & non-regular: Liz Karshner
Chicago host show — Thursday, Oct 29
- Regular dog: Ken Calloway · Regular bitch: Corri Long · Intersex, veteran, non-regular & Junior Showmanship: Brandon Edge
Western Michigan host show — Friday, Oct 30
- Regular dog: Pat Ropp · Regular bitch: Eva Dickey · Intersex, veteran, non-regular & Junior Showmanship: Alin Retezatu
Milwaukee host show — Saturday, Oct 31
- Regular dog: Lalaine Policar · Regular bitch: Dennis Balanag · Junior Showmanship: Cathy Eke · Intersex, veteran & non-regular: Michelle Cazett
Judges from the Bulldog Club of America's combined 2026 premium list. Verified 2026
Juniors
Junior Showmanship runs at every show of the week, with dedicated judges for the prequel, the national, and each host-club specialty — plus a Pee Wee special attraction on Sunday. Verified 2026
- Prequel Show (Sun, Oct 25)
- Judy Wade — also judges the Pee Wee special attraction
- National Show (Wed, Oct 28)
- Corri Long
- Chicago host show (Thu, Oct 29)
- Brandon Edge
- Western Michigan host show (Fri, Oct 30)
- Alin Retezatu
- Milwaukee host show (Sat, Oct 31)
- Cathy Eke
Junior Showmanship entry is free, and an entry in a corresponding specialty class is not required. The Pee Wee special attraction (ages 5–9) is also free on Sunday; dogs must be at least 4 months old to enter the Pee Wee class.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event.
- Event
- Bulldog Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Bulldog (Non-Sporting Group)
- Type
- National specialty week — parent club national + Division II prequel + three host-club specialties
- Host club
- Bulldog Club of America
- Dates
- October 25–31, 2026 — East Peoria, Illinois
Plan your visit
Host hotel
The host hotel is the Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center, 100 Conference Center Drive, East Peoria, IL 61611 — the show's home base for the week.
- Group rate
- $129–$149 per night plus taxes and fees — includes made-to-order breakfast and the evening reception with hors d'oeuvres; group code 90C
- Room block cutoff
- October 3, 2026
- Pet fee
- $50.00 per room (up to four dogs per room)
- Book
- hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/bulldog-club-of-america-national-specialty-2026
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
Entries close Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:00 PM Eastern. Verify closing details with the event secretary before entering.
Sources
- Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees, entries closing September 30, 2026 at 11:00 PM Eastern, host hotel
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory (apps.akc.org) — dates and city cross-check