The 2019 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Dec. 14 and 15 had a record number of dogs in its 19th year. The competition began with 5,284 dogs each competing for best in their breed.
Best in Group
Best of Breed winners then advanced to compete in the group competitions. Each AKC-recognized breed falls into one of seven group classifications:
- Sporting — These dogs were bred to hunt game birds both on land and in the water. The breeds in this group include Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels.
- Hound — These breeds were bred for hunting other game by sight or scent. These breeds include such dogs as Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Greyhounds.
- Working — These dogs were bred to pull carts, guard property, and perform search and rescue services. Among the breeds in this group are the Akita, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, and St. Bernard.
- Terrier — This group includes breeds such as the Airedale, Cairn Terrier, and Scottish Terrier. Terriers were bred to rid property of vermin such as rats.
- Toy — These dogs were bred to be household companions. This group includes little dogs such as the Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian, and Pug.
- Non-Sporting — This diverse group includes the Chow Chow, Bulldog, Dalmatian, and Poodle. These dogs vary in size and function, and many are considered companion dogs.
- Herding — These dogs were bred to help shepherds and ranchers herd their livestock. The Briard, Collie, German Shepherd Dog, and Old English Sheepdog are some of the breeds in this group.
The Group Winners of the 2019 AKC National Championship
Sporting Group
The winner of the Sporting Group was Golden Retriever GCHS Paradigms Field Of Leongolden, owned by D. & D. Ramsey, handled by Laurie Jordan-Fenner, and bred by Carlotta & Mustapha El Khorchi.
Group Placements
1st Place – Golden Retriever – GCHG CH Paradigm’s Field Of Leongolden
2nd Place – Vizsla – GCHP CH Tradewind’s Ida Bomb JH CA
3rd Place – Cocker Spaniel ASCOB – GCHG CH Foley’s Frat Party CGC
4th Place – Irish Setter – GCHG CH Mi Jean’s You Mad Bro?
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – Brittany – GCHS CH Millette’s Game Player
2nd Place – English Cocker Spaniel – GCHS CH Foxwoods Ivywood All Hallows Eve
3rd Place – Irish Setter – GCHG CH Mi Jean’s You Mad Bro?
4th Place – German Shorthaired Pointer – GCHP CH Kan-Point’s Showme The Chase To Victory
Hound Group
The winner of the Hound Group was Rhodesian Ridgeback GCHS CH Shadowridge A Touch Of Class, owned by J. & J. Chapman, handled by Lauren Hay-Lavitt, and Bred by Linda Hellinge & Kerry Williams.
Group Placements
1st Place – Rhodesian Ridgeback – GCHS CH Shadowridge A Touch Of Class
2nd Place – Borzoi – GCHB CH Majenkir Bookstor Spellbinder
3rd Place – Greyhound – CH Ina’s Fashion Divine
4th Place – Azawakh – GCH CH Eidi N’ Amanar Gaeraat Starfire CM3
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – Afghan Hound – GCHG CH Sunlit’s Queen Of Everything CGC
2nd Place – Basenji – Gchs Ch Dark Moon’S Black Tri Affair
3rd Place – Saluki – GCHG CH Aurora’s Rhythm Of My Heart
4th Place – Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen – GCHS CH Lacey’s Not My Circus
Working Group
The winner of the Working Group was Giant Schnauzer GCHG CH Ingebar’s Tynan Dances With Wildflowers, owned by S. Nordstrom, C. Mann, & M. Bisceglia, handled by Katie Shepard, and bred by Maryann Bisceglia.
Group Placements
1st Place – Giant Schnauzer – GCHG CH Ingebar’s Tynan Dances With Wildflowers
2nd Place – Samoyed – GCH CH Pebbles’ Run Prince Louis With Sammantic
3rd Place – Boxer – GCHP2 CH Cinnibon’s Bedrock Bombshell
4th Place – Rottweiler – GCHG CH Magicwinds River Of Dreams TT CGC TKN
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – Doberman Pinscher – GCHG CH Protocol’s I Came I Saw I Sparkled CA
2nd Place – Bullmastiff – GCHS CH Silverback’s Wind Of Fate
3rd Place – Siberian Husky – GCHS CH Dijon’s Lost Shaker Of Salt
4th Place – Great Dane – GCHB CH Vztop Hillside Just Another Southern Gentleman
Terrier Group
The winner of the Terrier Group was Welsh Terrier GCHG CH Brightluck Money Talks, owned by K. Bailey & J. McBrien, bred by Janet McBrien, and handled by Tracy Ann Szaras.
Group Placements
1st Place – Welsh Terrier – GCHG CH Brightluck Money Talks
2nd Place – Colored Bull Terrier – GCHS CH Grabo Testarossa Formula For Drama
3rd Place – Miniature Schnauzer – GCHG CH Carmel Sky High Wish Upon A Star
4th Place – Wire Fox Terrier – GCHB CH Irvonhill Voignier
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – American Staffordshire Terrier – GCHG CH Alpine’s Lbk Living On The Road BCAT DS CGC TKN
2nd Place – Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier – GCHS CH Doubloon’s Extreme Gamer
3rd Place – Smooth Fox Terrier – GCHB CH Absolutely By Design
4th Place – Bedlington Terrier – GCHB CH Lamz Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking FDC CA BCAT CGC
Toy Group
The winner of the Toy Group was Pekingese GCH CH Pequest Wasabi, owned, handled, and bred by David Fitzpatrick.
Group Placements
1st Place – Pekingese – GCH CH Pequest Wasabi
2nd Place – Havanese – GCHP CH Oeste’s In The Name Of Love
3rd Place – Pug – GCHP2 CH Hill Country’s Puttin’ On The Ritz
4th Place – Toy Poodle – GCHG CH Smash Jp Copenhagen
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – Chinese Crested – GCHP CH Kaylen’s General Kai Panda
2nd Place – Pekingese – GCH CH Pequest Wasabi
3rd Place – Toy Manchester Terrier – Cottage Lake’s Oedipal Love
4th Place – Miniature Pinscher – GCHG CH Kimro’s One In A Minion CGC
Non-Sporting Group
The winner of the Non-Sporting Group was Standard Poodle GCHP CH Stone Run Afternoon Tea, owned by C. Unger & W. Lee, bred by Connie Unger, and handled by Paul Clas.
Group Placements
1st Place – Standard Poodle – GCHP CH Stone Run Afternoon Tea
2nd Place – Schipperke – GCHP CH Rivendel’s Barefoot Bandit
3rd Place – Dalmatian – GCHG CH Bret D N Adventureland Star Coach
4th Place – Tibetan Terrier – GCHS CH Barnstorm Blue Blood Royalty By Dzine
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – Lhasa Apso – Malefica Del Alcazar
2nd Place – Finnish Spitz – GCH CH Got Spitz Celebration
3rd Place – Keeshond – GCHS CH Adonai’s Drawn From The Water
4th Place – French Bulldog – GCH CH Arborhills Xmark Dream Angel Of Goldshield
Herding Group
The winner of the Herding Group was Old English Sheepdog GCHG CH Bagatelle Moonlight Drive, owned by R. Corbett and B. & J. Charest, handled by Cliff Steele, and Bred by Linda Menard and Bernard & Joanne Charest.
Group Placements
1st Place – Old English Sheepdog – GCHG CH Bagatelle Moonlight Drive
2nd Place – Shetland Sheepdog – GCHP CH Syringa – Akadia The Corsair
3rd Place – Pyrenean Shepherd – GCHS CH Isaby De Terra-Blue
4th Place – Bouvier des Flandres – GCHS CH G & W Avalons Ace’s Guardian Of Hugo CGC
Bred by Exhibitor Group Placements
1st Place – Belgian Sheepdog – GCHS CH Verseau’s Queen Of Everything V. Eh
2nd Place – Rough Collie – GCHB CH Sylvan Argent Pumped Up Kicks
3rd Place – Old English Sheepdog – CH Bugaboo’s Courage Of Conviction
4th Place – Miniature American Shepherd – GCHG CH Love That Jimmy Fallon CM
AKC National Championship Best in Show
After winning Best in Group, the seven winning dogs go on to compete in Best in Show. Winning Best in Show at the AKC National Championship is one of the highest honors in the sport and comes with a $50,000 prize.
You can find out which of the seven Best in Group dogs went on to win Best in Show by tuning into Animal Planet on Jan. 1, 2020, at 6 p.m. ET.