ABC National Specialty Shows

The first ABC Specialty Show was held in Ravenna, OH in 1943 when Best of Breed was won by Patrice de Sharvogue. There were no champions in the Specials Class provided for them though there was a champion entered in the American Bred Class. Jeffery de Klemanor was wrongfully entered and was disqualified. Patrice won the next two specialty shows and set a mark for the number of wins in that even which was equaled but never surpassed during intervening years until CH Jordean All Kiddin' Aside won Best of Breed four out of five years beginning in 1991.

Show interest began to surge about the same time as interest in field trials. In 1946 the requirements for the number of dogs competing for points was raised from the minimum 2-3-4-5-6 to 2-3-4-6-8, an indication that the previous year had seen quite a few shows offering four or five championship points.

The ABC Specialty has been held annually with the ABC National All Age trials since the 1943 event. In 1949 an extra specialty was held with Alan Stuyvesant bringing a prominent French judge, M. Allaire, from Paris for the occasion. His judging in the French manner, complete with critiques proved very interesting and educational. In 1968 the ABC inaugurated a Summer Specialty to be rotated to various sections of the country. This traveling ABC Summer Specialty serves to bring an event of National significance to various regions of the country.

The ABC National Specialty has grown so tremendously that two judges are sometimes required for breed judging. In recent years, sweepstakes for puppy, veteran and Dual Champions along with Junior Handler classes have been added.