National Specialty · Greeley, Colorado
Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 7–10, 2026 — the Golden Retriever Club of America national specialty for Golden Retrievers in Greeley, Colorado
Weekend at a glance
The Golden Retriever Club of America hosts its 86th National Specialty October 7–10, 2026, at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley, Colorado. The conformation national anchors a twelve-day stretch of Golden events — field trial, hunting test, tracking, working certificates, agility, sweepstakes, obedience, rally, scent work, Junior Showmanship, and the Top 20 Invitational — with most of it on the lawn and in the buildings at Island Grove.
- Dates
- October 7–10, 2026
- Venue
- Island Grove Regional Park
- Host club
- Golden Retriever Club of America
- Format
- National specialty
- Entries
- Registration closed
- Premium list
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
More about this show
National specialty events run September 29–October 10; conformation October 7–10. · Approved Premium published · Lorraine Yu · Entries@DogZibit.com · 425-765-9146
- Dates
- Wednesday through Saturday
- Venue
- 501 North 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631
- Host club
- 86th National Specialty
- Format
- Conformation plus obedience, rally, agility, scent work, tracking, field & hunting events
- Entries
- Opened July 22, 2026 · closed Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at noon Pacific
Event secretary: Dogzibit
Enter the show
- Event secretary
- Dogzibit — entries online at dogzibit.com or mailed to PO Box 1176, Duvall, WA 98019
- Closing
- Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 12:00 noon Pacific (or when limits reached)
- Conformation first entry
- $45.00
- Conformation additional entry
- $35.00
- Sweepstakes
- $35.00
- Junior Showmanship
- $25.00
- Obedience
- $45.00 first class / $35.00 additional · Team $15.00 per dog · Brace $20.00 per dog
- Rally
- $45.00 first class / $35.00 additional · Rally Pairs $20.00
- Agility
- $45.00 / $30.00 / $30.00 / $25.00 / $25.00 / $20.00 (1st–6th entry)
- Scent work
- Detective $60.00 · all other classes $45.00 first / $30.00 second / $20.00 each additional
- Tracking
- $80.00 TDU · $150.00 VST
- WC / WCX
- $85.00 / $90.00
- Field trial
- Open & Amateur stakes $120.00 · Qualifying & Derby $110.00
- Hunting test
- Master $105.00 · Senior $95.00 · Junior $90.00
- CCA
- $100.00
The days
Four days built around the national: the conformation specialty on the lawn, obedience and rally in the livestock barn, and the Best of Breed finale on Saturday.
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Wed, Oct 7 | Specialty show — regular & non-regular classes; obedience trial begins; scent work trial #2; health clinics; annual meeting 5:00 PM |
| Thu, Oct 8 | Specialty show — regular & non-regular classes; Junior Showmanship; obedience trial concludes; health clinics; Top 20 Invitational 6:30 PM |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Specialty show — regular & non-regular classes; rally trial; Best of Breed lineup and partial judging; breeder education seminar 6:00 PM |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Best of Breed judging; Parade of MAF Heroes at lunchtime |
The week’s lead-up events run September 29–October 6: field trial (Sep 29–Oct 1), hunting test (Oct 2–3), tracking and working certificate tests (Oct 4), agility and the Certificate of Conformation Assessment (Oct 5), and puppy/veteran/gundog sweepstakes with scent work and the welcome dinner (Oct 6). 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. Verified 2026
Best of Breed, Best BBE, Best Puppy, Best Veteran
- Donna Ernst
Regular & Non-Regular Class Dogs
- Collette Jaynes
Regular & Non-Regular Class Bitches
- Nancy E Talbott
Junior Showmanship (Thursday)
- Jennifer Harper
Sweepstakes — Puppy & Veteran Dogs, Best Puppy
- Christian Rutten
Sweepstakes — Puppy & Veteran Bitches, Best Veteran
- Kelly Shuffelbottom
Gundog Sweepstakes
- Cindy Price
Obedience & Rally
- James Comunale · Rick Garvin · Carole Lynn Evans (obedience only) · Julie Yamane (rally only)
Agility
- Laura Gillice · David Nauer
Field trial
- Kathy Fregelette (Open) · Derek Smith (Open) · Susan Caire (Qual) · Paula Elmes (Qual) · Corrie Elmes (Amateur) · Ed Neilson (Amateur) · Don Fregelette (Derby) · Joey Smith (Derby)
Hunting test
- Doug McGuire (Master) · Lee Whittaker (Master) · Janice Masica (Junior A / Senior) · Steve Herron (Junior A) · Linda Alexander (Junior B / Senior) · Diana Martin-Gruenler (Junior B)
Scent work
- Deanna Bunn · Sally Dunphy · Ronald V. Horn · Jessica Taylor · Andrea Wojciechowski
Tracking
- Jane Jonas · Pia Paulsen
WC / WCX
- Janice Masica · Danette Weich · Laura Weinmann · Keith Winch · David Marsteller · Doug McGuire · Diana Martin-Gruenler · Warren Frizell · Karen DeCordova · Steve Herron
Certificate of Conformation Assessment
- Debbie Claussen · Helen Dorrance · Patricia Flanagan · Ellen Hardin · Gloria Kerr · Bruce McLean · Denise Reel · Susan Schwarz · Lei Taft
Judges announced by the Golden Retriever Club of America for the 2026 national specialty week.
Juniors
Junior Showmanship is part of the national specialty week, with a dedicated competition day. Verified 2026
- Thursday, October 8
- Junior Showmanship Competition — Jennifer Harper · entry $25.00
Novice, Open, and Master classes offered (Novice and Open divided by age). No Pee Wee is listed in the 2026 premium.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event.
- Event
- Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Golden Retriever (Sporting Group)
- Type
- National specialty — 86th national specialty show, 37th sweepstakes, 15th gundog sweepstakes
- Host club
- Golden Retriever Club of America
- Dates
- October 7–10, 2026 — Greeley, Colorado (full specialty events September 29–October 10)
- Top 20 Invitational
- Thursday, October 8, 6:30 PM — Exhibition Building
- Parade of Titleholders
- Tuesday, October 6, after the welcome dinner — Exhibition Building
Plan your visit
The venue
Island Grove Regional Park, 501 North 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631. The specialty show runs on Area D on the lawn; obedience in the livestock barn; grooming, vendors, health clinics, and meetings in the Events Center. Show hours 7:00 AM–11:00 PM, indoors and outdoors.
Hotels near Island Grove
- DoubleTree by Hilton Greeley at Lincoln Park
- 919 7th St, Greeley, CO 80631 — 970-304-0000 (1.2 miles from Island Grove)
- Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Greeley
- 2401 W 29th St, Greeley, CO 80631 — 970-339-5030 (4.3 miles to the venue)
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland
- 4705 Clydesdale Pkwy, Loveland, CO 80538 — 970-593-6200 (19.4 miles from Island Grove)
Rooms through the club’s housing link: connectionshousing.app/26GRCA. Check with each hotel for pet requirements and fees. Field trial participants also list the LaQuinta Inn by Wyndham Fort Collins (3709 East Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 — 970-493-7800) and the Cobblestone Hotel in Gering, Nebraska for the hunting test and WC/WCX.
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
Entries closed Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific. Separate premium lists cover the agility trial, field trial, hunting test, and CCA.
Sources
- Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees
- OfficialDogZibit show inventory — club, dates, city/state
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory (apps.akc.org) — dates and city cross-check