AKC National Championship Presented By Royal Canin Draws Largest Entry In History Of The American Kennel Club

NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin continues to top itself, drawing record numbers in its 19^th year. An entry of 5,284 dogs will compete for the title of National Champion on December 14 and 15, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Combined with the other weekend events including the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC Agility Invitational, the AKC Obedience Classic, AKC National Owner-Handler Series Finals, NADD/AKC Diving Dogs Championship, the Junior events and the AKC Temperament Test, the overall show totals top 11,008 entries, surpassing the AKC 1984 Centennial event and becoming the largest in the history of the American Kennel Club. The event also remains the largest dog show in North America.

"The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin continues to be an experience that welcomes every dog lover," said Dennis B. Sprung, AKC President and Show Chairman. "Not only does the show consistently garner top notch competitors thanks to our breeders, the more than 1,000,000 square feet of event space allows us to provide a wide array of sports featuring the best canine athletes, vendors selling tons of dog-themed items in time for the holidays, over 160 AKC Meet the Breeds^® booths, plus multiple educational and fun opportunities."

Events in the one million square feet of canine-centric space during the National Championship week of December 10-15, leading up to the crowning of America's Champion include the:

• AKC Junior Showmanship Finals 
• AKC Junior Agility Competition 
• AKC Juniors Obedience & Rally Classic
• AKC National Owner-Handler Series Finals
• AKC Meet the Breeds^®
• Specialty Shows, Group Shows and the FSS/Miscellaneous Open Show
• Orlando cluster, consisting of the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay, the Brevard Kennel Club, the Central Florida Kennel Club and Orlando Dog Training Club

2019 Highlights:

Judges: Judge Mrs. Dorothy Collier of Sapphire, NC will select the AKC National Championship Best in Show (BIS) winner. The owner(s) of the BIS winner will receive $50,000. Dr. Thomas Davies of Brimfield, MA will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show from 1,148 entries and receive $15,000.  Best in Stakes at the AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes will be judged by an elite panel: Mrs. Dorothy Collier, Dr. Thomas Davies and Patricia M. Cruz. These esteemed judges will determine the winner from 1,382 entries to be crowned the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed (Puppy/Junior) of the Year. 

Viewing Coverage: There will be extensive live coverage throughout each day on AKC.tv and the evening competitions begin live streaming at 4:30pm. The Agility finals will also be streamed live on AKC.tv, available online, on the AKC.tv app which is on the Apple Store and Google Play and Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Altice.

AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals: The AKC NOHS Finals Best in Show competition will be judged by Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia on Saturday, December 14. This invitation-only competition is open to the top ten ranked dogs in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series in each breed/variety from the 2019 qualifying year and drew an entry of 791 dogs. The NOHS Group Finals will also be streamed live on AKC.tv.

AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY THE NUMBERS

• All 193 AKC-recognized breeds are entered to compete
• 5,284 entries in the AKC National Championship
• The largest entries include:
• 159 Golden Retrievers
• 127 Labrador Retrievers
• 121 Dachshunds (all varieties)
• 107 Australian Shepherds
• 91 French Bulldogs
• 82 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• 73 Whippets
• 73 Pomeranians
• 73 Poodles (all varieties)
• 62 Chihuahuas (both varieties)
• 56 Rhodesian Ridgebacks
• 791 dogs are entered in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals
• 159 juniors, ages 9-17, who have met high academic standards and qualification criteria based on year-round competition, will compete in Junior Showmanship
• 1,382 puppies and junior dogs are entered in the AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes
• 1,148 Bred-by-Exhibitors in competition.
• 1,007 dogs will compete in the North America Diving Dogs/AKC National Championship

OBEDIENCE CLASSIC AND AGILITY INVITATIONAL BY THE NUMBERS

• 244 teams in the two-day AKC Obedience Classic, including 67 breeds from 30 states.
• 69 Junior Obedience entries and 96 Junior Rally entries in the AKC Juniors Classic, including 18 breeds from 13 states.
• 704 entries in the AKC Agility Invitational, including 165 breeds from 47 states and 4 countries
• 84 entries in the AKC Junior Agility Competition (Friday, Dec. 13^th)

To purchase tickets or get more information about the show, visit us at https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-national-championship/ or on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers.

ABOUT ROYAL CANIN USA
Royal Canin USA is a leader in science-based cat and dog health nutrition. Founded by a veterinarian in 1968, Royal Canin has more than 50 years of experience in delivering individualized nutritional solutions. In collaboration with an expert team of nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians from around the world, Royal Canin places cats and dogs at the central point of the innovation process. The Royal Canin product line offers a range of diets based on size, age, breed, lifestyle and therapeutic requirements. Royal Canin diets are available at veterinary hospitals and pet specialty stores nationwide. Royal Canin is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. To learn more about Royal Canin, visit www.royalcanin.com and "LIKE" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalcanin.us.

SOURCE American Kennel Club

Related Links

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