On July 31, the Vizsla Canada community gathered at the Ranch House Grounds in Okotoks, Alberta, for the 2026 Vizsla Canada Regional Specialty—a day devoted to celebrating our dogs, our breed, and the people who bring our community together.
Our sincere thanks go to Conformation Judge Chie Ejima Yamakado and Sweepstakes Judge Chris Hodges, as well as to every exhibitor, volunteer, sponsor, trophy donor and supporter who contributed to the day.
From a young puppy beginning his show career to a remarkable ten-year-old veteran still shining in the ring, the Regional was a wonderful reminder that there are many ways—and many years—in which to celebrate a Vizsla.
Celebrating Our 2026 Regional Winners
Congratulations to GCHB Rhapsody Better With Sprinkles FDJ RI JTS DS RATN, who was awarded Best of Breed.
GCH Stoney Lake Stardust CGN FDJ SDIN SDN was awarded Best of Opposite Sex and Best Field Dog
Kizmar Paytah Zenith A Lotta Apples, A Lil Nuts had an exciting day, earning Best Puppy, Select Male and Best in Juvenile Sweepstakes.
GCH Solana’s Anything You Can Do I Can Do Feta FDJ NS was awarded Select Female.
GCH Vizdom Rigel ‘N Hera’s Majestic Lugh CGN SDN received an Award of Merit.
Sable Creek’s Find Me In The Briars was awarded Winners Female.
A Veteran Worth Celebrating
One of the particularly special stories of the Regional belonged to GCHEx RCH Vizslavilla Prize Pure Goddess AGIJ AGXV AGXJV CD RAE4 RM RMX3 JT CAX SX RATO.
At ten years old, she was awarded both Best in Veteran Sweepstakes and Best Veteran.
Her day wasn’t finished there.
She returned to the ring for Brood Bitch and Progeny alongside her offspring, GCH Vizdom Rigel ‘N Hera’s Magnificent Frey FDJ SDN NS and GCH Vizdom Rigel ‘N Hera’s Majestic Lugh CGN SDN, earning Best Brood Bitch and Progeny.
Seeing generations together in the ring is one of the things that makes a breed specialty so meaningful. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate not simply an individual win, but longevity, soundness, breeding programs and the legacy our dogs leave behind.
The People Behind the Specialty
Of course, a Specialty doesn’t happen because of the dogs alone.
It happens because people enter. People travel. Volunteers give their time. Members donate trophies. Sponsors step forward. Friends cheer from ringside. And people who share a love for this breed spend a day together.
We were fortunate to have an incredible group of businesses, kennels, organizations and individuals support this year’s Regional, including NAVHDA, Bone & Biscuit Mahogany, MyLeash, Lucky Dog Coffee, Stoney Lake Vizslas, Tilted Barn Pet Co., Organiflax, Marvel Dog Training Academy, Vizdom Vizslas, Rocky View K9 Sport Arena, Verve Vizslas and Pawsitively Wild ‘N’ Free.
We are equally grateful to the members, families and friends who sponsored awards and contributed to our trophy fund. Every contribution—large or small—helped make the day possible.
More Than the Ribbons
Our National Specialty in July brought the Vizsla Canada community together on Canada’s west coast. A few weeks later, our Regional brought us together again in Alberta.
Different dogs. Different people. Different setting.
But the same reason for being there.
Specialties give us the opportunity to evaluate and celebrate our dogs, but they also give us something that can’t be recorded in a marked catalogue: time together.
Conversations at ringside. Meeting a dog you’ve only seen in photographs. Watching a veteran return to the ring. Cheering for a friend’s puppy. Sharing knowledge between generations of breeders and owners. And going home with new memories and, perhaps, a few new friends.
Those are the things that make a Specialty more than the ribbons.
Congratulations to all of our exhibitors and winners, and thank you to everyone who made the 2026 Vizsla Canada Regional Specialty part of another wonderful summer for our breed and our community.
