The AKC National Championship is held by the American Kennel Club every year in December or January in the US since 2001. [1] Over 5,000 dogs from all over the world come to compete, but only seven go to best in show.
The 2021 AKC National Championship was livestreamed on AKC.TV on December 18-19 2021. The show premiered on ABC on January 2 2021 at 2 p.m. EST.
Its primary sponsor is dog food brand Royal Canin. It used to be sponsored by Eukanuba, a premium brand of dog food, but Royal Canin took over as lead sponsor in 2016. [2]
The first national championship was held in Orlando, Florida in 2001. The 2002 show was also in Orlando. The next show was held in 2003 and was in Long Beach, California. The two 2006 shows were held in Tampa, Florida (the show switched from being held in January to being held in December, which explains why there were two shows, and therefore two winners, in 2006).
With 2020 being hosted in Orlando, the championships will be held behind closed doors for the first time. In 2020, the Whippet became the first breed to win the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship more than once. In the most recent show (December 2021), a Giant Schnauzer named Bayou [3] won.
Best in Show: [4]
Year | Dog | Name | Call Name |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Bichon Frise | CH Special Times Just Right! | JR [5] |
2002 | Kerry Blue Terrier | CH Torums Scarf Michael | Mick |
2003 | Norfolk Terrier | CH Cracknor Cause Celebre | Coco |
2005 | Bloodhound | CH Heathers Knock On Wood | Knotty |
2006 (Jan) | Alaskan Malamute | CH Nanuke's Snoklassic No Boundaries | Costello |
2006 (Dec) | English Springer Spaniel | Felicity's Diamond Jim | James |
2007 | Sealyham Terrier | Ch. Efbe's Hildago At Goodspice | Charmin |
2008 | Pointer | CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry | Holly |
2009 | Scottish Terrier | Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot | Sadie |
2010 | Australian Shepherd | CH Propwash Reckon | Reckon |
2011 | Standard Poodle | GCH CH Jaset's Satisfaction | London |
2012 | Wire Fox Terrier | GCH CH Afterall Painting The Sky | Sky |
2013 | Portuguese Water Dog | GCH CH Claircreek Impression de Matisse | Matisse |
2014 | Skye Terrier | GCH CH Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie | Charlie |
2015 | German Shepherd Dog | GCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn | Rumor |
2016 | Puli | GCHB CH Cordmaker Mister Blue Sky | Preston |
2017 | Spaniel (Cocker) ASCOB | GCHP CH Silverhall Strike Force | Striker |
2018 | Whippet | GCHP CH Pinnacle Tennessee Whiskey | Whiskey [6] |
2019 | Pekingese | GCH CH Pequest Wasabi | Wasabi [7] [8] |
2020 | Whippet | GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon | Bourbon |
2021 | Giant Schnauzer | GCHG CH Lagniappe's From The Mountains To The Bayou | Bayou [3] |
2022 | Bulldog | GCHG Cherokee Legend Encore | Star |
2023 | Shih Tzu | GCHG CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World | Comet |
The whippet is a British breed of medium-sized dog, of the sighthound type, related to the larger greyhound and the smaller Italian greyhound. Apart from the differences in height, the whippet closely resembles these two breeds; it has sometimes been described as "miniature greyhound", and casually referred to as "the poor man's racehorse". It is kept as a companion dog, for competitive showing, as well as for amateur racing. Whippet also participate in dog sports such as lure coursing, agility, and flyball. It has the highest running-speed of any breed in its weight and size range, and may have the fastest idle-to-running acceleration of any dog. Whippet is known for its gentle, affectionate, and calm temperament, being relaxed and serene at home while showing high energy and excitement outdoors.
The Affenpinscher is a German breed of small toy dog of Pinscher type. Originally developed as a mouser, the Affenpinscher is now commonly found as a companion worldwide.
Lure coursing is a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure. Competition is typically limited to dogs of purebred sighthound breeds. The AKC has a pass/fail trial for all breeds called the Coursing Ability Test (CAT) and a timed 100 yard dash called Fast CAT where the dog's speed is converted to points.
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries. The FCI is based in Thuin, Belgium and has 98 members and contract partners.
A dog show is an animal show, an event where dogs are exhibited. A conformation show, also referred to as a breed show, is a kind of dog show in which a judge, familiar with a specific dog breed, evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.
The Pekingese is a breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by royalty of the Chinese Imperial court as a companion dog, and its name refers to the city of Beijing (Peking) where the Forbidden City is located. The breed has several characteristics and health issues related to its unique appearance. Because of its desirable characteristics, the Pekingese has been part of the development of designer crossbreeds, such as the Peekapoo and Peke-a-tese.
The United Kennel Club (UKC) is a kennel club founded in 1898 in the United States. In contrast with the American Kennel Club, which is non-profit and which only clubs can join, the United Kennel Club is a profit-making corporation, open to individuals.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an all-breed conformation show, held annually in the New York metropolitan area.
The Giant Schnauzer is a breed of dog developed in the 17th century in Germany. It is the largest of the three breeds of Schnauzer—the other two breeds being the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer. Numerous breeds were used in its development, including the black Great Dane, the Bouvier des Flandres, and the German Pinscher. Originally bred to assist on farms by driving livestock to market and guarding the farmer's property, the breed eventually moved into the city, where it worked guarding breweries, butchers' shops, stockyards and factories. It was unknown outside of Bavaria until it became popular as a military dog during World War I and World War II.
Eukanuba is a brand of dog food and cat food owned and manufactured by Mars, Incorporated worldwide and by Spectrum Brands in European markets; previously handled by Procter & Gamble from 1999 through 2014. The company produces 17 different formulas for dogs and 13 for cats.
Championships are awarded to dogs who have passed through a process of selection at dog shows. Traditionally, a championship was received at a conformation show, but championships are now offered for dogs who have attained a high degree of perfection in other dog sports as well.
The National Dog Show is an all-breed benched conformation show sanctioned by the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, which takes place on Thanksgiving each year and has been televised on NBC since 2002.
Fred Lanting is a multi-breed American Kennel Club (AKC) judge, United Kennel Club (UKC) all breed judge and handler as well as other show organizations in the U.S. and abroad. He is best known for being the author of "The Total German Shepherd Dog" and "Canine Hip Dysplasia and Other Orthopedics Disorders". He also tours the world conducting lectures and seminars on canine health as well as judging UKC, Sieger, and other registry shows.
Ch. Yakee A Dangerous Liaison, also known as Danny, was a Pekingese, who was the winner of the title of Best in Show at the Crufts in 2003. He had previously been Reserve Best in Show at the competition in 2002. Following his victory, he was accused of having undergone a cosmetic procedure, which supposedly turned out to be an exploratory surgery for tonsillitis. A documentary broadcast in 2008, "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" later revealed that Danny had in fact undergone surgery due to a serious inherited disorder, exacerbated by conformation to breed standards.
NORD Ch. Topscore Contradiction, also known as King, was a standard Poodle, who won Best in Show at Crufts in 2002. He was the first overseas dog and the first undocked dog from a breed which was previously docked in the UK to win the title.
GCH Palacegarden Malachy, also known as Malachy, was a male Pekingese who was named Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2012 after reaching the Best in Show round in 2011. He was also the second ranked dog in the United States in 2011.
Ch. Torums Scarf Michael in Liverpool, England, was a Kerry Blue Terrier who is best known for being the 2000 Best in Show winner at Crufts, and 2003 Best in Show of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He is the first dog to win the "Triple Crown" of dog shows, having also won the 2002 AKC/Eukanuba National Invitational Championship.
Ch. Jafrak Philippe Olivier,, also known as Philip, was a male Giant Schnauzer who won the title of Best In Show at Crufts in 2008. He had previously won the Working Group in 2004 and 2005.
Vanderbilt 'N Printemp's Lucky Strike, better known as Striker, is a male samoyed dog. He was the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show's 2021 and 2022 Working Group Winner.