Specialty shows are conformation events limited to a single breed, e.g. Irish Wolfhounds. Some specialty shows may be held in conjunction with an All-Breed event while others are stand-alone events, such as the specialty for IWANE. Nearly every IW club holds a specialty point show every year.
There is no better place to learn about Irish Wolfhounds than at a Specialty Show, in particular the national specialty (“the National”), which is usually held annually by the IWCA, our breed’s parent club. It’s where dedicated fans of the breed meet together year after year, to share knowledge, our passion for the breed, and to bring our best dogs to compete.
As with any dog show, the point of the conformation classes is to determine the best breeding stock to continue the breed— and this point is taken nowhere more seriously than at specialties and, in particular, the National. A class win at the National can be a high point of a dog person’s year, and a Best of Breed or Best in Sweepstakes is often a pinnacle achievement for a person with a long history in a breed.
Whether you’re a prospective owner researching Irish Wolfhounds, a new owner, or an experienced breeder, handler or judge, the IWANE Specialty Shows are your best opportunity spend time with others who share your love of our breed. Many specialties provide educational seminars and may offer other events such as obedience, and agility, as well as venues such as field trials and lure coursing .
Irish Wolfhound Association of New England
A non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization and AKC Licensed Specialty Club dedicated to the welfare of the Irish Wolfhound.