A Guide To The 2023 CCAA National Specialty Events

In an effort to provide the most recent developments regarding the Cane Corso Association of America’s 2023 National Specialty weekend, below is some great information to help you navigate through everything going on during the cluster! As previously announced, the Cane Corso Association of America’s 2023 National Specialty weekend will be held in conjunction with the Houston World Series of Dog Shows, in Houston, Texas from Thursday, July 20, 2023 to Sunday, July 23, 2023 at the NRG Arena, 1 Reliant Center Drive, Houston.
 
In order for our Breeders, Owners and Exhibitors to have a smoother visit to our CCAA National Specialty Weekend, we would like to highlight some possible pain points while visiting the Houston World Series of Dog Shows:

1. Houston, Texas is HOT and HUMID! Keep cool water, Gatorade/Pedialyte in case of overheating - you or your dog. Be aware of how long your dog(s) have walked on hot concrete.
2. Houston, Texas is a large city. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Also, know your directions to your destination. Houston is not the place to drive around sightseeing with no knowledge of your surroundings.
3. Per the host kennel clubs, all exhibitors and guests will be required to wear WRIST BANDS throughout the show weekend. This is done to assist exhibitors with ease of entry to the show and to bypass the line to pay for entrance to the show. The CCAA will have some to handout starting Thursday morning. They can be picked up in the CCAA grooming area and the CCAA Club table.
4. All vehicles will be required to pay for parking. NRG staff mans the parking areas. An In/Out pass is available via the online NRG website with credit card.
5. Wednesday - no parking fee or door charge as it is Setup Day.
6. Reserved Grooming. Exhibitors will need to reserve/pay for their own grooming space. When reserving grooming space, Let the kennel club know they are with CCAA or they have Corsos. Cluster Chair will do his best to keep all Corsos in the same area. Ringside crating will be allowed for the Corso judging only. Following breed judging, crates and dogs must be moved back to the grooming space.  Contact information in the premium list for the cluster.

 
As in prior years, the CCAA is making sponsorship of trophies available to all and our trophy sponsorship website can be found here: https://www.payit2.com/p/2023ccaa. The superintendent for all four shows is Onofrio Dog Shows and all entries can be made at https://www.onofrio.com/cgi-bin/db2www/showentry/enter.  Each show must be entered individually and each sweepstakes must be entered as a separate class.  Onofrio has not yet uploaded the premium list.
 
Below is a schedule of events updated as of June 6th, 2023, all of which will be held on-site at the NRG Arena, 1 Reliant Center Drive, Houston and/or the host hotel - Wyndham-Houston, 8686 Kirby Drive, Houston. For information about the NRG Center, please visit their website at: https://www.nrgpark.com/nrg-park-facilities-2/nrg-center/. For information about the Wyndham-Houston, please visit their website at: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/houston-texas/wyndham-houston-near-nrg-park-medical-center/overview.   
 
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2023:

• The CCAA will hold a supported entry on Thursday in conjunction with the Houston Kennel Club.
  • Judge Mr. Eric Liebes

 

• The CCAA invites the Cane Corso community to attend the parent club breed workshop and Meet & Greet Happy Hour. Attendees can expect to receive the same breed seminar presentation and manuals provided to AKC Judges, in addition to an opportunity to network with other breeders, owners and enthusiasts from across the country.
  • Event Breakdown:
    Date: Thursday July 20th, 2023 
    Location:
    Wyndham Houston near NRG Park - Medical Center
    8686 Kirby Drive, Houston TX 77054
    • Breed Seminar:
      6:00pm - 7:00pm
      Presented by CCAA Breed Educator, Ms. Shauna DeMoss
      Open seating with RSVP appreciated
    • Meet & Greet Happy Hour: 
      7:00pm - 10:00pm
      Light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
  • Questions and RSVP can be submitted to [email protected]

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2023:

• The CCAA will hold its 2023 Western Regional Specialty in conjunction with Houston Kennel Club.
  • Judge Mrs. Patricia Trotter
  • Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes Judge Mrs. Jeannine Volpe-Jeffery
• AKC Judge mentoring ringside with Shauna DeMoss, CCAA Breed Educator  
• Obedience trial and Rally trial – the Cane Corso Association of America sponsors the breed trophies at these trials

 

• 2023 CCAA Annual Membership Meeting Notice for All CCAA Members in Good Standing
  • To be Held on Friday July 21, 2023 at the NRG Center National Specialty Show Site, 1 Reliant Center Drive, Houston, TX
  • Room TBD – Additional notice will be sent once location is finalized with the NGR Center.  The location will be dependent on the time of the meeting.
  • Time TBD – Additional notice will be sent once the time is finalized.  The time will be dependent on the Cane Corso Ring Time for that day.
  • Only CCAA Members in good standing are allowed to be in attendance, per Article II, Section 1 of the CCAA Bylaws.  The quorum for the meeting shall be 10% of the members in good standing.
    

 

• The CCAA will hold its 2023 CCAA Breeder’s Cup Invitational and Young Prospect Challenge.
  • Judges:
    • AKC Judge - Cathy De La Garza
    • Breed Judge - Shauna DeMoss - Castleguard Cane Corso
    • Breed Judge - Alexia Rodriguez - Potrero Performance Dogs
  • To be held in the evening after Best In Show - Wyndham-Houston Conference Center - 6-10pm
  • There will be a cash bar and the CCAA will be offering light hors d'oeuvres
  • There will also be a 4 to 6 Month Puppy Showcase running concurrently in a separate ring judged by Breed Judge - Eryn Wolfe - Altiere Cane Corso
  • Entries close 11:59am EST on July 5th, 2023. Entries made for the Breeder’s Cup Invitational AFTER June 21st, 2023 will not receive a personalized participation rosette. Personalized participation rosettes are only for Breeder's Cup Invitational entries.
  • Dress/formal attire requested
  • The Breeder’s Cup Invitational, Young Prospect Challenge and 4-6 Month Puppy Showcase entries are made to the CCAA at the following links:
    • Breeder’s Cup Invitational, $100 per entry: https://form.jotform.com/CCAA_Member_Apps/2023-ccaa-bci
    • Young Prospect Challenge, $45 per entry: https://form.jotform.com/CCAA_Member_Apps/2023-ccaa-ypc
    • 4 to 6 Month Puppy Showcase, $25 per entry: https://form.jotform.com/CCAA_Member_Apps/2023-ccaa-4to6month

 
SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2023:

• The CCAA will hold its 2023 National Specialty in conjunction with Beaumont Kennel Club.
  • Judge Mrs. Donnell Richards
  • Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes Judge Mrs. Chris Ann Moore
• Obedience trial and Rally trial – the Cane Corso Association of America sponsors the breed trophies at these trials

 

• 2023 CCAA Annual Awards Banquet
  • To be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 6 to 10 in the evening at the Wyndham-Houston Conference Center 6-10 pm
  • Banquet tickets are $65 per person and may be purchased from the CCAA.  There will be a cash bar.  The link to purchase tickets is here.

 
SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2023:

• The CCAA will hold a supported entry on Sunday in conjunction with the Beaumont Kennel Club.
  • Judge Mrs. Joan Luna Liebes
• Obedience trial and Rally trial – the Cane Corso Association of America sponsors the breed trophies at these trials

 
ACCOMODATIONS:   
Wyndham-Houston
8686 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77054
713-748-3221
Ask for CCAA Block
July 20-Thursday; July 21-Friday; July 22-Saturday.
$129 per NON-SMOKING room per night.
Non-refundable pet fee per room is $75.
Cut-off date for guests to book at these discounted rates is 3 weeks prior to the event – 07/05/2023-Wednesday.