North America’s largest dog show is coming to Orlando this weekend, with tests such as agility, obedience, herding, dock diving, and conformity to breed standards.
The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and will welcome dogs from all 50 states and the world to the Orange County Convention Center on December 13th and 14th.
Breed-based judging and group shows determine which of the 5,557 competing dogs will be crowned America’s national champion. The final night’s big event concludes with a Best in Show contest to determine the winner of $50,000 in prize money.
Combined with other events such as the AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC Agility Invitational, AKC Obedience Classic, AKC National Owner-Handling Series Finals, AKC RACH Invitational, and Junior Events, the entire show has a total of 9,162 entries. Almost all events are open to the general public.
“Essentially, this is like the Super Bowl of dog shows. There’s so much to see and so much to do,” said AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter Munden. “This is the crowning of an American champion. This is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work by the dogs and their owners, and we are very proud of what we have created. The AKC has a long tradition and a long legacy.”
The convention center will be filled with 39 rings (and 45 judges from as far away as Germany), as well as an agility area and a dock diving pool. Sporting, hunting, toy and non-sporting breeds will be judged on Saturday, while working, terrier and herding breeds will be judged in Sunday’s competition.
The largest category of entries includes 149 Golden Retrievers, 143 Dachshunds, 110 French Bulldogs, 106 Chihuahuas, 105 Australian Shepherds, 100 Labrador Retrievers, 82 Whippets, 65 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 60 Pomeranians, 58 Chinese Cresteds and 57 Pugs.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Pugs line up in the ring at the AKC National Championship on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
The AKC National Championship began in 2001 as the AKC Corn Dog Classic. The competition was an invitation-only show with about 2,000 entries and focused solely on conformation. The following year, the event was expanded to include a Breeder of the Year award, and in 2003 an exhibitor contest for the best breeders was added.
The first shows were held in Long Beach and Tampa, California, before moving to Orlando in 2011. In 2013, AKC added the National Owner Handle Series Finals and later expanded the event to include obedience, agility and dock diving competitions.
The 2025 show will feature the second year of the AKC RACH (Rally Champion) Invitational, an event where handlers guide dogs around a course and complete a series of skill tests.
Munden said the event provides a unique opportunity for owners and dogs to spend time together and bond. Although there is plenty of competition, this show provides an opportunity for dog lovers to connect with each other.
“A lot of dogs I call multi-sport athletes. They really enjoy being able to go and dive and then get a blowout and get in the show ring. It’s like a release for them,” she said. “Dogs are not only our best friends, but they also bring us so much joy by doing amazing things that we actually enjoy doing. I always say that dogs have the coolest hobbies.”
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If you go
The AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin, will be held Dec. 13-14 at the Orange County Convention Center, 9899 International Drive in Orlando. The event is free to the general public. Parking fee is $10. Coverage is available on AKC.tv. ABC will air a three-hour special of the Best in Show contest on December 28th from noon to 3pm ET. For more information and schedules, visit akc.org.
