The AKC National Championship is held by the American Kennel Club every year in December or January in the US since 2001. 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 18-19 December 2021. The show premiered on ABC on 2 January 2021 at 2 p.m. EST.
Its primary sponsor is dog food brand Royal Canin. It used to be sponsored by Eukanuba, but Royal Canin took over as lead sponsor in 2016.
History 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 were 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.
Past champions Best in Show: Year Dog Name Call Name 2001 Bichon Frise CH Special Times Just Right! JR 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 Charlie2015German Shepherd DogGCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V KenlynRumor2016PuliGCHB CH Cordmaker Mister Blue SkyPreston2017Spaniel (Cocker) ASCOBGCHP CH Silverhall Strike ForceStriker2018WhippetGCHP CH Pinnacle Tennessee WhiskeyWhiskeyWhippet "Whiskey" Wins Best In Show At Largest Ever AKC National Championship Presented By Royal Canin – PR Newswire 2019PekingeseGCH CH Pequest WasabiWasabiPekingese Wasabi Wins Best in Show at AKC Nationals|PEOPLE.comPekingese "Wasabi" Wins Best In Show At Largest Ever AKC National Championship Presented By Royal Canin|Markets Insider2020WhippetGCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky BourbonBourbon2021Giant SchnauzerGCHG CH Lagniappe's From The Mountains To The BayouBayou2022BulldogGCHG Cherokee Legend Encore Star2023Shih TzuGCHG CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World Comet2024Giant SchnauzerGCHG Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB Monty2025Lhasa ApsoGCHP Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice JJ
See also National Dog Show Westminster Dog Show
Notes
External links AKC Championship website AKC Championship Landing Page AKC National Championship Livestream