2026 Spring Event

Friday, February 27 * Saturday, February 28 * Sunday, March 1
Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, MD

AKC Sporting Group Dog Shows, Breed Specialties, All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials, Fetch Testing, CGC and Trick Dog Tests, MSDA Bird Instinct Clinics, lots of Vendors

Related pages:

About Spring Event
2026 Instinct Clinics

Dog show, obedience and rally entries are OPEN. For Premiums and entries visit Infodog.com. Entries close February 11.

Visit our vendors! At the event and online.

“Spring Event” is short for “Spring Community Event”, and all of the dog-loving community is welcome to attend. The weekend is open to the public and there are hundreds of dogs under one roof. Spring Event is held at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, MD and this year the dates are Friday, February 27 – Sunday, March 1. There will be three days of AKC-licensed Sporting Dog Group shows, Specialty shows for six breeds, All-Breed Obedience and Rally Trials, AKC Fetch, CGC and Trick Dog Testing, and MSDA’s Bird Instinct Clinics as well as lots of vendors selling great dog-related items, and other activities, too.

For potential dog show and obedience/rally entrants, MBF is the superintendent. Find the Premium List, entry forms, Judging Program and other information at Infodog.com. The entry deadline is noon on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Major activities include:

  • Friday, February 27:
  • Saturday, February 28:
    • AKC Sporting Group Show
    • Boykin Spaniel Club & Breeders Association of America National Specialty
    • Chesapeake English Cocker Spaniel Association Specialty
    • Clumber Spaniel Club of the Carolinas Specialty
    • Irish Water Spaniel Club of America Specialty
    • Liberty Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club Specialty
    • Maryland Cocker Spaniel Club Specialty
    • National Capital English Setter Club Specialty
    • AKC All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials
    • AKC Fetch Testing (all levels)
    • CGC and Trick Dog Testing
    • MSDA Bird Instinct Clinics
    • Vendors!
  • Sunday, March 1:

Also:

  • AKC National Owner-Handled Series each day
  • Best Gun Dog in Group – Saturday
  • Best Bred by Exhibitor in Group – Saturday
  • Morning Coffee & Donuts – Saturday & Sunday
  • Best in All-Sporting Breed Sweepstakes & Veteran Sweepstakes – Sunday

Supported Entries are:

  • Friday:
    • Boykin Spaniel Club & Breeders Association of America
    • Chesapeake English Cocker Spaniel Association
    • Liberty Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club
    • Susquehanna Valley English Springer Spaniel Club
  • Saturday:
    • Boykin Spaniel Club & Breeders Association of America
    • Clumber Spaniel Club of the Carolinas
    • Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America
    • Maryland Cocker Spaniel Club
    • Mid Atlantic Field Spaniel Club
    • Potomac Irish Setter Club
    • Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club
    • Susquehanna Valley English Springer Spaniel Club
    • Sussex Spaniel Club of America
    • Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America
  • Sunday:
    • Boykin Spaniel Club & Breeders Association of America
    • Capital City Cocker Spaniel Club
    • Clumber Spaniel Club of the Carolinas
    • Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America
    • Liberty Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club
    • Mid Atlantic Field Spaniel Club
    • National Capital English Setter Club
    • Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club
    • Susquehanna Valley English Springer Spaniel Club
    • Sussex Spaniel Club of America

On Saturday and Sunday, AKC Fetch Tests for all levels (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Retriever) will be hosted by Judges Jennifer Hollis & Heather Rees. Two judges will each offer two concurrent tests for four tests total each day. Earn all four Fetch titles in one weekend by passing each level once under each of the two judges! The trials will be held on the grounds, outdoors on grass with snow fencing. Pre-Entry will be open January 24-February 21 ($30/test). Day-of entries will be $35/test, space permitting. Entry limit is 50 per test. More information and pre-entry is at https://www.sparklypaw.com/upcomingfetchtests.

On Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning MSDA will offer Bird Instinct Clinics. The Instinct Clinic consists of individual work with each dog and handler. Each dog gets 10-15 minutes in the field, including bird contact (e.g., flush or point). Trainers get the dogs excited about the birds, and then the dogs are able to scent and find a bird, triggering their basic hunting instincts. Clinics are run by AKC hunt test judges and experienced handlers for flushing, pointing, and retrieving breeds. No field experienced is needed, so this is great for beginners! Early registration ($20) closes Sunday, February 15. Walk-up registration, space permitting, will be $25. Follow the link for more information and preregistration.

Day of parking will be $10 per vehicle CASH or CHECK ONLY. Pre-paid parking is available at a rate of $7 per day and limited numbers of Reserve Parking Passes, Prime Day Parking Passes and overnight parking for campers are also available. Visit https://www.sparklypaw.com/msda-spring-event-parking to purchase parking passes and for more information.

Visit our vendors! At the event and online.

  • All Linked Up – Permanent jewelry, bracelets, anklets, rings and necklaces
  • Ameriprise Financial Services & FCE Imaging – Financial planning services through Ameriprise & Custom engraved drinkware (mugs, glasses) & custom imaged apparel (Tshirts, aprons, etc.).
  • Archway Pet – Dog Food & Dog Treats
  • Clare’s Nutty Concoctions – Artisan nut brittle that are prepackaged. Our golden brittle is golden because it’s golden like our golden retriever.
  • DG Paws & Swag – Collars, leashes, bandanas, dirty dog items. Swag for owners: Puppy Love, Dog is Good and Chala bags.
  • Fable and Sage – Hand illustrated custom dog stationery and gifts
  • Howl Mountain Pet Kitchen, LLC
  • Kimscraftshope – Handmade wreaths, 3d printed items, tumblers, pens
  • Nature’s Caretakers, LLC – Hand made Metal Art, Safe products for your yard, Planters, Seminars for planting, Plant and Garden information etc.
  • Pet-O-Bed
  • Pet Portraits by Iris – I’m a local artist who hand-paints custom pet portraits and hand-makes gift items, such as pet portrait ornaments and refrigerator magnets.
  • Precision Sharp Co LLC – Sharpening, Precise Cut shears, blades and accessories
  • Redbarn Pet Products LLC – No sales, only free samples of : Dog Kibble, Air dried food , toppers treats and chews
  • Speck of Gold – Speck of Gold creates custom keepsakes & gifts for dog owners, plus stylish bandanas for dogs.
  • The Crabby Crafter
  • White Dog Bone – Grooming Products, Leashes & Collars, Beds, Nature’s Farmacy, Natural Treats, Toys

If you are interested in renting booth space as a vendor at MSDA’s Spring Event, more information is available here.

Bill Burland is the Spring Event Chair. Contact Bill at Burland@mdsportingdog.org.

P.S. If you’re trying to understand the differences between independent, concurrent and designated specialties as well as supporting entries and sweepstakes, MSDA just happens to have an article explaining these terms.