Entries For 2009 Show Open To All Competitors

NEW YORK, NY (February 29, 2008) – The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will be the platform for AKC’s 125th anniversary celebration. In recognition of this milestone, the AKC will waive the invitational format. As was the case for AKC’s centennial show in 1984, classes will be offered at the breed level and championship points will be awarded.

The event will take place in Long Beach, CA on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2009 and will continue to showcase the top American dogs as well as offer the popular Bred-by-Exhibitor competition and <!––>Eukanuba World Challenge<!––>. AKC anticipates a very significant entry and therefore an entry limit may be necessary. the panel for this show will consist of almost 90 judges.

To further commemorate the anniversary, AKC Parent Clubs are invited to hold a specialty or supported entry in conjunction with this show. If a Parent Club chooses not to participate, then local specialty clubs will be given the opportunity to join us. The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will return to an invitation-only format in 2010. All dogs who would have qualified for the 2009 show will be invited to attend the 2010 show, along with the 2010 qualifiers.

The AKC National Obedience Invitational and AKC Agility Invitational will be held in conjunction with the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The Los Encinos Kennel Club, Kennel Club of Beverly Hills and Long Beach Kennel Club shows will precede the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship at the same site on Dec. 9-11, 2009.