National Specialty

National Specialty shows are competitions that focus on a single breed or the varieties of one breed. While some Specialty shows are stand-alone events, others may be staged in conjunction with an All-Breed event.

A specialty show, especially the National Specialty (“the National”), which is often hosted yearly by the breed’s national parent organization, is the best location to learn about your breed. Year after year, devoted supporters of the breed gather there to exchange information and passion while bringing their best canines to compete.

As with any dog show, the purpose of the conformation classes is to identify the greatest breeding material to preserve the breed, and specialties, in particular the National, take this purpose very seriously.