AKC National Championship


The AKC National Championship is held by the American Kennel Club every year in December or January in the US. Its primary sponsor is Royal Canin, a premium brand of dog food which has over 60+ breed specific formulas for dogs and cats. Over 5,000 dogs from all over the world come to compete, but only seven go to best in show. It used to be sponsored by Eukanuba, a premium brand of dog food, but Royal Canin took over as lead sponsor in 2016.
The 2018 AKC National Championship was livestreamed on AKC.TV on 15-16 December 2018 at 4:45 pm EST. The show premiered on Animal Planet on 1 January 2019 at 6 pm EST and re-aired at midnight.

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.

Past champions

Best in Show:
YearDogNameCall Name
2001Bichon FriseSpecial Times Just Right!JR
2002Kerry Blue TerrierTorums Scarf MichaelMick
2003Norfolk TerrierCracknor Cause CelebreCoco
2005BloodhoundCh Heathers Knock On WoodKnotty
2006 Alaskan MalamuteNanuke's Snoklassic No BoundariesCostello
2006 English Springer SpanielFelicity's Diamond JimJames
2007Sealyham TerrierCh. Efbe's Hildago At GoodspiceCharmin
2008PointerCookieland Seasyde HollyberryHolly
2009Scottish TerrierCh. Roundtown Mercedes of MaryscotSadie
2010Australian ShepherdCH Propwash ReckonReckon
2011Standard PoodleGCH CH Jaset's SatisfactionLondon
2012Wire Fox TerrierGCH CH Afterall Painting The SkySky
2013Portuguese Water DogGCH CH Claircreek Impression de MatisseMatisse
2014Skye TerrierGCH CH Cragsmoor Good Time CharlieCharlie
2015German Shepherd DogGCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V KenlynRumor
2016PuliGCHB CH Cordmaker Mister Blue SkyPreston
2017Spaniel ASCOBGCHP CH Silverhall Strike ForceStriker
2018WhippetGCHP CH Pinnacle Tennessee WhiskeyWhiskey
2019PekingeseGCH Pequest WasabiWasabi