DVG America National Championship 2026: An Event Dutch Shepherd Fans Should Know About
Mark your calendar for December 11–13, 2026!
The world of working Dutch Shepherds is about much more than the breed’s striking brindle coat, athletic ability, and versatility. For those who appreciate the Dutch Shepherd as a serious working and sport dog, the DVG America National Championship is an event worth knowing about.
This year, the championship will take place December 11–13, 2026, in Allen, Texas, with a practice day scheduled for December 10.
For Dutch Shepherd enthusiasts, this is an opportunity to watch high-level working-dog teams compete, learn more about IGP, and follow dogs and handlers who have worked for months—and often years—to reach the national level.
What Is DVG America?
DVG America is a working-dog organization that welcomes all breeds, rather than being limited to one specific breed. According to DVG America, if a dog can participate in the sport, the organization welcomes that dog—including purebred, mixed-breed, and unregistered dogs.
That makes DVG particularly interesting for Dutch Shepherd owners.
The Dutch Shepherd is a versatile working breed, and many owners are attracted to the breed because of its intelligence, athleticism, trainability, endurance, and desire to work. IGP provides one of the venues where these qualities can be challenged and demonstrated.
What Is IGP?
IGP is a demanding working-dog sport that combines three major areas:
Tracking — the dog must follow a scent trail and demonstrate accuracy and concentration.
Obedience — the dog and handler work together through a series of exercises requiring control, precision, and teamwork.
Protection — the dog demonstrates courage, control, responsiveness to the handler, and the ability to work under pressure.
Together, these phases create a demanding test of the relationship between dog and handler.
It is not simply about having a powerful or athletic dog. Success requires training, preparation, communication, control, and teamwork.
Why Should Dutch Shepherd Owners Pay Attention?
The DVG National Championship is an opportunity to see working dogs performing at a very high level—and Dutch Shepherds have a history in DVG competition.
Dutch Shepherd teams have appeared at DVG national-level events over the years, including notable performances by dogs such as Vrijheid's Nemesis, who became DVG National Vice Champion in 2016.
The breed's participation in this sport is part of a much longer working tradition. Dutch Shepherds have been used and trained for demanding jobs for generations, and IGP offers another way to showcase the breed's working abilities.
For people who are new to the sport, watching a national championship can also be an excellent introduction to what a trained working Dutch Shepherd can accomplish.
A National Championship Is More Than a Competition
For the competitors, reaching the National Championship represents a significant accomplishment.
DVG's qualification requirements mean that teams must meet specific criteria before competing at the national level. DVG's published rules include requirements involving membership, a DVG scorebook, and qualifying performance at a DVG trial.
Behind every dog entering the championship is a story of training and preparation.
There are handlers who have spent countless hours on the field. Trainers who have helped develop the team. Helpers and decoys who have contributed to the dog's protection work. Tracking fields, obedience sessions, conditioning, travel, trial preparation—and, of course, the bond between dog and handler.
That is what makes a national championship so interesting to watch.
December 2026: Mark Your Calendar
The 2026 DVG America National Championship will take place:
December 11–13, 2026
Allen, Texas
A practice day is scheduled for December 10.
Whether you are already involved in IGP or simply love the Dutch Shepherd as a working breed, this is an event worth following.
And if you are fortunate enough to attend in person, it can be an opportunity to meet people from the working-dog community, watch the competition, and experience the atmosphere surrounding a national-level event.
Dutch Shepherd News Will Be Following the Event
At Dutch Shepherd News, we would like to bring more attention to Dutch Shepherds participating in working-dog sports and to help our readers discover events that showcase the breed's abilities.
As the December championship approaches, we will be looking for more information about the Dutch Shepherd teams competing, their backgrounds, their accomplishments, and their journey to the National Championship.
We also plan to look back at previous DVG National Championships to learn more about the history of Dutch Shepherd participation and highlight some of the teams that have represented the breed over the years.
So, Dutch Shepherd fans—mark your calendar!
December 11–13, 2026 — DVG America National Championship — Allen, Texas.
Whether you are a Dutch Shepherd owner, breeder, trainer, IGP enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys watching talented working dogs perform, the DVG National Championship is an event worth discovering.
Stay tuned to Dutch Shepherd News as we follow the road to the 2026 DVG America National Championship.
Please check the official DVG America and 2026 National Championship information for the latest details, schedules, entry information, and any changes before making travel plans.