Dog
The ADVANCE™ Sydney Royal Dog Show has been an action packed celebration of wagging tails for more than 150 years.
Featuring more than two hundreds breeds, the competition attracts over three thousand entries each year, with Exhibits vying for Sydney Royal glory and ultimately the coveted Best in Show title. Celebrating excellence in breeding, Exhibitors have the chance to showcase their hard work, time and dedication to their dogs as well as enjoying and sharing in the camaraderie of the event.
In addition to the prestigious conformation show and Sydney FCI International, the schedule includes Obedience, Rally, Agility, Jumping, Scent Work and Trick Dog.
For Show-goers the Sydney Royal Dog Show is 12 days of action and entertainment of the canine kind, with other popular highlights including The Festival of Dog Sports, Police Dogs Display and a novelty pet dog show.
- Key Dates
- Exhibitor Information
- Sydney FCI International
- Sponsors & Supporters
- Judging
- Canine Hero Awards
- Results
- Grooming Show
- Subscribe
SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW
ENTRIES OPEN
ENTRIES OPEN (FESTIVAL OF DOG SPORTS)
ENTRIES CLOSE
ADVANCE™ SYDNEY ROYAL DOG SHOW
OBEDIENCE AND RALLY OBEDIENCE TRIALS
SYDNEY FCI INTERNATIONAL
FESTIVAL OF DOG SPORTS (SCENT WORK)
FESTIVAL OF DOG SPORTS (TRICK DOG)
JUNIOR HANDLER & SWEEPSTAKES
GENERAL SPECIALS (BEST IN SHOW)
AGILITY TRIAL
DOGS AUSTRALIA CANINE GROOMING CHAMPIONSHIP
MEET THE BREED DISPLAY
Proudly sponsored by
Imported Dogs
In order to enter your imported or campaign dog, please contact the Events Manager at companionanimals@rasnsw.com.au
Breed Specialty Show
If your club is interested in holding a Specialty Show during the Sydney Royal Dog Show please contact the Events Manager at companionanimals@rasnsw.com.au.
Exhibitor Manual
All Exhibitors are issued with an Exhibitor Manual. This will be posted out after the final closing dates. The Exhibitor Manual contains information relevant to Exhibitor's time on site and their specific Competition.
It covers topics such as precinct access, entry passes and paperwork required, parking and passes, arrival and access times, event details and information, loading and unloading details and Exhibitor amenities.
Parking
Parking for Dog Exhibitors is in car park P5A, which is located on the corner of Bennelong Road and Holker Street. Car park P5A is accessible 24 hours. The Parking Pass is only valid for the date displayed on the pass.
Disabled parking is available in car park P5 to any drivers displaying the standard disability stickers required for any parking area. There is no need for additional passes or tickets.
Exhibitors are required to return to the Showground by foot along Holker Street and Australia Avenue and re-enter the Showground through the Exhibit Entry Gate 10 upon producing a One-Day Entry Pass.
Bump In
Benching of exhibits commences each day at 6.30am when the pavilion opens. Exhibitors are reminded that it is a condition of entry that Exhibits are benched during the following hours:
Conformation: 9am to 5pm
Obedience: 8am to 5pm
Rally: 9am to 5pm
Agility: 7.30am to 5pm
Handlers: 10am to 2pm
Handlers (dogs): 9am to 5pm
Bump Out
Dogs may not be removed from the Howie complex before 5pm unless in exceptional circumstances, authorised in writing from the Steward-in-Chief. This is a condition of entry for the Sydney Royal and must be adhered to.
There will be an announcement made concerning the time and order of departure each day.
Exhibitors will be advised when they are permitted to collect their vehicles from the P5 car park. They should return to P5A car park by foot and drive to the Showground via the same route as per the morning drop off to the parking area (via Hill Road, Marjorie Jackson Parkway and Australian Avenue). The collection area is the same as the morning drop off area, and is accessible between 5pm and 6pm daily.
Security staff will be on duty directing Exhibitors to ensure the delivery and collection of Exhibits is conducted in a safe and timely manner. All instructions provided by our security staff MUST be followed. Your patience and cooperation with our security staff is appreciated.
Drivers must not leave their vehicles unattended.
Welcome to the 2026 Sydney FCI International.
The dog judging lawns at the Sydney Royal Easter Show have been centre stage for the most iconic and prestigious Australian celebration of pedigree dogs for more than 150 years.
In 2025 it became even bigger with the introduction of the Sydney FCI International offering Exhibitors the chance to compete on both the national and international stage on the same day.
The Companion Animals Committee is thrilled to offer the Sydney FCI International once again in 2026, sanctioned by the distinguished Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organisation).
Entries for the Sydney FCI International should be submitted through Show Manager and Exhibitors should refer to the Schedule for important information on eligibility criteria, conditions and judging.
Please contact the Events Manager at companionanimals@rasnsw.com.au with any questions you have on this exciting event.
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW gratefully acknowledges donations, prizes and trophies awarded throughout the Dog Competitions at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show from the following:
Sponsor
ADVANCE™
Supporters
Alan Hunt
Australian Cattle Dog Breeders Group
Blacktown Kennel & Training Club Inc
Brett White
Brush Farm Dog Training Club Inc
Central Coast Dog Obedience & Training Club Inc
Deer Bush Dog Training Club
Dog News Australia
Dogs NSW
Esme & Wayne O'Driscoll
Louise Patterson & Jacqueline Dixon
Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club Inc
Patricia & Anthony Sherlock
Penrith Kennel & Obedience Club Inc
Royson Valore & Todd McDougall
Schnauzer Club of NSW
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Society of NSW Inc
Working Dog Club of NSW Inc
Mary’s passion for the dog show world began in 1971 with an Irish
Setter but her renowned Freespirits Kennel was founded two years
later with Doberman Pinscher bitch, Ch Freespirits Electra CDX.
Under the Freespirits kennel name, Mary has bred over 150
Canadian and American champion Dobermans, Salukis and Papillons including many National Specialty, Specialty, Group and Best in Show winners. Ch Freespirits Far and Away was Canada’s Top Dog of All Breeds in 2001.
Between 1979 and 1995 Mary handled all breeds of dog professionally, experiencing great success before retiring in 1996 to pursue her judging career. She is fortunate to have judged at shows across the world while also exhibiting her own dogs, including lure coursing on occasion with her hounds.
Mary is a lifetime member of the Canadian Kennel Club, has served on the board of the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada and is a member in good standing of the Saluki Club of Canada as well as the American Saluki Association. She currently resides in Ohio in the USA with her husband and three lovely hounds. Mary is honoured and excited to be part of the 2026 Sydney Royal Dog Show judging panel.
Warner Céspedes Arias began his distinguished involvement with the
dog show world as an exhibitor of German Shepherds, achieving
remarkable results both at home in Costa Rica as well as abroad.
With an interest in helping to grow the purebred canine world,
Warner began developing the breeding of the English Pointer and English Setter, producing multiple national and international champions. He’s also bred Australian Terriers, Papillons, Wire Fox Terriers, Pugs, Pekingese and later Dobermanns which he is still heavily involved with.
A lawyer by profession, Warner has worked and represented the Costa Rican Association during FCI assemblies over a decade, he is the President of the Society of Exchange of Latin American Canofilia SICALAM.
As a Judge Warner has officiated across the world including Africa, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and United Kingdom. He is honoured to be part of the Judging panel for the 2026 Sydney Royal.
Boris Spoljaric has had a long and esteemed involvement with the
show world, has judged in more than 65 countries and at more than
20 European and World Dog Shows.
An all-breeds Judge since 2003, Boris has awarded over 200 Best in
Show winners in the past 25 years.
By profession Boris is a Civil Engineer, he is also the author of three books on dogs and many articles published in zoological and cynological magazines. His depth of knowledge on shepherds, sheepdogs, sighthounds, scent hounds and spitz breeds is particularly significant, having conducted extensive field research.
Boris is looking forward to being part of the Sydney Royal Dog Show judging panel in 2026
Antonio Almeida was born into a family of dog lovers and began
showing at the age of 8, winning Best Handler titles as both a junior
and adult.
Antonio has been involved with numerous breeds over the years
including specialising in German Shepherds, Boxers, Shar Pei, the
Siberian Husky, Rottweilers and Shih Tzu. He founded Belaxe Kennel and from 2018 focused primarily on Basenjis, producing numerous Champions and Best in Show winners. His Basenjis have achieved top breed ranking in China and remarkable results at international Competitions worldwide.
In addition to his work as a practicing attorney in Macau, Antonio has had the privilege of judging in countries around the world including Japan, Canada, Brazil, the Philippines and Russia.
For renowned Judge Aramis Lim, dogs were in his DNA! His parents
were both all-breed Judges as well as breeders of German Shepherds,
Boxers, Great Danes, Poodles, Min Pins and Dachshunds which
Aramis began show handling from childhood.
Since moving to Australia in 1984 Aramis and his wife Pauline began
breeding and showing Shetland Sheepdogs, many of which have achieved Best in Show wins at both All Breeds and Specialist Shows.
Aramis has had the privilege of Judging in more than 40 different countries around the world over a period of 30 years including at World Dog Shows, FCI Section Shows and the FCI European Winners Show.
He is delighted to be part of the esteemed 2026 Sydney Royal Dog Show Judging panel.
Janelle Robbins began handling Boxers in the 1960s and with her
parents, built Tobana Kennels into one of Australia’s most respected
Boxer lines. Her love of dogs was also fostered by her grandfather,
Arthur Walshaw, a respected hound breeder, and further shaped by
her uncle, Kevin Walshaw, an ANKC Hall of Fame inductee and judge
whose influence sparked her enduring interest in gundogs.
Throughout her canine career, Janelle has successfully handled breeds from every Group and has been a licensed judge since the early 1980s. She has officiated on every continent and since 2013, has held ANKC–FCI and AKC Championship Show credentials as an AllBreeds and Best-in-Show judge. In addition, she is an accredited Junior Handler Judge and was instrumental in expanding opportunities for young exhibitors including raising the age limits for Junior Handling Classes, helping to establish the national Junior Handling Competition that selects Australia’s representative to Crufts, and founding the Junior Kennel
Club NSW, where she served as the first President.
Alongside her distinguished career in the dog world, Janelle is an accomplished consultant to governments and companies across Australia, the USA, and the United Kingdom. Despite her international professional commitments, she considers it a special honour to return home to officiate at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, proudly continuing in the footsteps of her late father, Wally Robbins.
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Canine Hero Awards are a celebration of ‘Man’s Best Friend’.
Every year amongst our canine companions, heroes emerge, having performed remarkable feats that reinforce how incredibly fortunate we are to have them.
From astonishing acts of bravery, to keeping communities safe and transforming the lives of people with special needs, these heroes are ordinary dogs doing extraordinary things.
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Canine Hero Awards aim to acknowledge and honour these deserving dogs at a presentation to be held during the ADVANCE™ Sydney Royal Dog Show, ‘Best in Show’ Day at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Entries are open to NSW residents across two categories:
- The Companion Dog Award recognises dogs trained for support or assistance work, or even treasured pets, who have demonstrated the canine-human bond in an extraordinary manner.
- The Service Dog Award is open to canines who have displayed exemplary commitment while on duty for a service or government organisation.
Applicants wishing to enter the 2025 Canine Hero Awards, will need to fill out the entry form available on the right hand side, and send to domesticanimals@rasnsw.com.au , with a high-resolution picture of the dog and its owner.
Entries will close on Friday 28 January, 2025.
2025 ADVANCE™ Sydney Royal Dog Show Catalogue
2025 Dog Catalogue Toy Group
2025 Dog Catalogue Terrier Group
2025 Dog Catalogue Gundog Group
2025 Dog Catalogue Hound Group
2025 Dog Catalogue Working Dog Group
2025 Dog Catalogue Utility Group
2024 Dog Catalogue Non Sporting Group
2025 Dog Catalogue Sweepstakes
2025 Dog Catalogue Junior Handler
2025 Dog Catalogue Festival of Dog Sport
While the dog lawns are a sea of wagging tails throughout the Sydney Royal Easter Show on one special day pooches are primped to pristine perfection!
The Dogs Australia Canine Grooming Championship Show is an extravaganza of talented canine grooming artists showcasing their mastery and competing for Sydney Royal glory. Competitors with different breeds and in different classes strip, scissor, and style their dogs to the highest standard in front of international Judges.
Watch on as the pavilion turns in a giant doggy day spa with scruffy pups emerging as stylish supermodels of the canine world.
Download the competition Schedule for more information and details on how to enter.