The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin is North America’s largest dog show, held annually since the year 2001. In 2019, the show takes place on December 14 and 15 in Orlando, Florida, with Championship Week events beginning December 10.

Each year, thousands of dogs compete for the title of National Champion, along with other events including the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC Agility Invitational, AKC Obedience Classic, AKC National Owner-Handler Series Finals, NADD/AKC Diving Dogs Championship, and Junior events. In 2018, the overall show totals topped 9,023 entries, making it the largest dog show held in the United States since the AKC 1984 Centennial event!

“The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin is a unique experience that no dog lover should miss,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and Show Chairman. “With a quality entry thanks to our breeders, and more than 1,000,000 square feet of event space, top canine athletes competing in a wide variety of dog sports, tons of vendors selling dog-themed items in time for the holidays, more than 160 AKC Meet the Breeds® booths and more, there is something for everyone at this canine extravaganza.”

Saturday and Sunday evening competition (Group judging and Best in Show) will be streamed live beginning at approximately 4:30PM ET on AKC.tv. You can watch the television broadcast on Animal Planet on January 1, 2020.

The 2019 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin will be held at Orlando, Florida’s Orange County Convention Center in the North-South building, filling one million square feet with canine competition. Tickets to attend the National Championship are available online, or at the door on the day of the show.

An entry of 5,003 dogs competed for the title of National Champion in 2018. Combined with the other events held during National Championship weekend, there were 9,023 total entries!

Only dogs being exhibited or participating in special attractions are allowed to attend the event. Service animals are permitted at the Orange County Convention Center in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To compete in an AKC-sanctioned conformation dog show like the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, a dog must be:

• Six months or older on the day of the show
• An AKC-recognized breed
• Registered with the AKC
• Not spayed or neutered (the purpose of a conformation dog show is to evaluate breeding stock)
• Free of disqualifying faults, as stated by their breed’s parent organization
• In sound health and up-to-date on vaccinations

Any dog that meets the eligibility requirements can be entered in the National Championship with one exception: AKC employees and employees of Royal Canin do not exhibit dogs at this show. Dogs are entered into the show using an official entry form found in the premium list.

Conformation all-breed dog shows are a process of elimination, with one dog being named Best in Show. At the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, the Best in Show winner earns the title of National Champion.

To get there, the winning dog has gone through several rounds of competition (and has likely been competing on the road to the National Championship all year long). Each AKC-recognized breed is judged, with the Best of Breed winners advancing to compete in the Group rings. Breeds fall into one of seven Group classifications: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. The first-place winner in each Group advances to the Best in Show competition.

The National Champion wins $50,000 in prize money – the largest cash prize in dog show history! In addition, the American Kennel Club adds the name of the dog, its owner(s) and breeder(s) to the base of the Perpetual Tiffany Loving Cup, a trophy on permanent display in the AKC Library. The winner receives a 22-inch engraved silver-plated tray, and an 8 1/2-inch replica of the Tiffany Loving Cup. The dog’s name and breed, its owner(s), breeder(s) are engraved on a brass plate and added to the “Best in Show” plaque on permanent display at the AKC Headquarters in New York.

Royal Canin offers the 32-inch Royal Canin “Crowning Champions” trophy to the National Champion. The name and breed of the winning dog, its breeder(s) and silhouette will be engraved on a gold-plated plaque that rests on the base. The trophy is displayed at Royal Canin Headquarters throughout the year, but will be on display at the event and presented to the winner at the close of the show. Royal Canin offers the winning dog a year’s supply (12 bags) of dog food, and an engraved crystal award to commemorate this significant achievement.

YES! Dog shows are fun and educational year-round activities for the entire family. The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin is no exception!

Don’t miss:

• AKC Meet the Breeds®: Kids can learn about dog breeds and interact with dogs (and often puppies!) at 140+ breed booths.
• AKC Public Education’s Patch Program: An interactive, hands-on learning experience appropriate for kids of all ages. Participants will learn about dog breeds, breed groups, what happens at a dog show, responsible dog ownership, and more! All participants receive a free patch, and there is no cost to participate. Advance registration may be required.
• Junior Events: Let your kids get inspired by AKC Junior Handlers! You can all enjoy the incredible sportsmanship on display from a new generation of dog sports champions at the AKC Junior Showmanship Finals, AKC Junior Agility Competition, and AKC Juniors Obedience & Rally Classic.
• AKC Demo Ring: Trick Dogs, Disc Dogs, Detection Dogs, Canine Conditioning, and more!
• NADD/AKC Diving Dogs Championship: If you’re watching Diving Dogs, chances are you’re in the splash zone. Kids of all ages can’t get enough of watching these athletic dogs leap from the dock and fly as far as 30+ feet through the air to make a championship dive.

The Orange County Convention Center is a huge venue, but it will be filled wall-to-wall with canine competition all throughout National Championship Week, including:

• Orlando dog show cluster (Dec. 10-13), consisting of the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay, the Brevard Kennel Club, the Central Florida Kennel Club, and Orlando Dog Training Club
• FSS/Miscellaneous Open Show (Dec. 10-13)
• Specialty and Group Shows (Dec. 13)
• AKC Juniors Agility Competition (Dec. 13)
• AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes (Dec. 13)
• AKC National Owner-Handler Series Finals (Dec. 13-14)
• AKC Agility Invitational (Dec. 14-15)
• AKC Obedience Classic (Dec. 14-15)
• AKC Juniors Classic – Obedience & Rally (Dec. 14-15)
• AKC Meet the Breeds® (Dec. 14-15)