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
- Venue
- Hotel Topeka at City Center
- Host club
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Inc.
- Format
- 94th National Specialty week
- Entries
- Registration closed
- Premium list
- 2026 national specialty info packet (PDF) Verified 2026
More about this show
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. · Verified 2026 Premium published Registration closed · Dates, venue, judges, fees & closing verified via the club's official info packet · 2509 SW Chauncy Dr, Topeka, KS 66614
- Dates
- Saturday through Saturday
- Venue
- 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, KS 66612
- Host club
- AKC parent club for the Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Format
- Breed judging, sweepstakes, Juniors, obedience, rally, lure coursing, agility, Fast CATs, scentwork, Endurance Trial, Top 25
- Entries
- Closed Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT · all events unbenched and indoors
Superintendent: Rau Dog Shows · Diana Komarek, Event Secretary
Enter the show
Entry fees are per dog, per show.
- 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
The days
The tentative day-by-day schedule for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 10 | RRCUS Board Meeting (9A–4P); Fast CATs 1 & 2 (8A–3P, on site) |
| Sun, Oct 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) |
| Mon, Oct 12 | Obedience (8A); CGC/CGCA/Trick Dog (8A); Breeder & Veterans Celebration (5P–6P); Veteran Sweepstakes (6P) |
| Tue, Oct 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) |
| Wed, Oct 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) |
| Thu, Oct 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) |
| Fri, Oct 16 | Junior Showmanship Judging (8A); Breed Judging — Best of Breed (8:30A); Best Veteran, Best Bred By, Best Puppy, Best NOHS (to follow) |
| Sat, Oct 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.
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
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
- Judging program (PDF) — RRCUS 94th National Specialty, Sat–Sat Oct 10–17, 2026 (Rau) 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