AKC Announces Largest Number of Entries

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The AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin has drawn record entry numbers in its 17th year. An entry of 4,803 dogs will compete for the title of National Champion on December 16 and 17, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. Combined with the other weekend events including the inaugural 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, and the Junior events, the overall show totals top 8,600 entries, making this the largest dog show held in the United States since the AKC 1984 Centennial event and the largest dog show in North America.

“The AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin is a must-attend event,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC president and show chairman. “With more than 1,000,000 square feet of event space, top canine athletes competing in a wide variety of dog sports, tons of vendors selling unique dog-themed items in time for the holidays, more than 160 AKC Meet the Breeds booths and more, this unique experience is truly a canine extravaganza.”

Events in the 1 million square feet of canine-centric space during the National Championship week of December 12-17, 2017 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

2017 Highlights:

Judges: Judge Roger R. Hartinger of Cincinnati, Ohio will select the AKC National Championship Best in Show (BIS) winner. The owner(s) of the BIS winner will receive $50,000. Paula Hartinger of Cincinnati, Ohio will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show from over 1,079 Bred-by-Exhibitor entries (dogs being shown by their owner/breeder). Best Bred-By Exhibitor in Show will receive $15,000.  Best in Stakes at the inaugural AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes will be judged by an elite panel of three All Breed Judges: Mrs. Paula Hartinger, Mr. Roger R. Hartinger and Dr. Steve Keating. These esteemed judges will determine the winner from 1229 entries to be crowned the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed (Puppy/Junior) of the Year.

Viewing Coverage: The AKC National Championship evening competition will be streamed live beginning at 5 p.m. each night on www.akc.org and live.royalcanin.com. The Bred-By Exhibitor groups, Junior Showmanship Finals, Best Miscellaneous, agility and obedience will be taped and available on demand at www.akc.org. The Agility final will be streamed live on www.akc.org.

AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals: The AKC NOHS Finals Best in Show competition will be judged by Patricia W. Laurans of Newtown, Connecticut on Saturday, December 16. 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 2017 qualifying year and drew an entry of 705 dogs. The NOHS Group Finals will be taped and available on demand at www.akc.org.

AKC National Championship by the Numbers:

• All 190 AKC recognized breeds are entered to compete.
• 4,803 entries in the AKC National Championship
• The largest entries include:

o   138 Golden Retrievers

o   125 Dachshunds (all varieties)

o   108 Australian Shepherds

o   98 French Bulldogs

o   96 Labrador Retrievers

o   72 Rhodesian Ridgebacks

o   71 Manchester Terriers (both varieties)

o   67 Poodles (all varieties)

o   63 Chihuahuas (both varieties)

o   62 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

o   60 Rottweilers

• 705 dogs are entered in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals.
• 162 juniors, ages 9-17, who have met high academic standards and qualification criteria based on year-round competition, will compete in Junior Showmanship.
• More than 630 dogs will compete in the North America Diving Dogs/AKC National Championship.

Obedience Classic and Agility Invitational by the Numbers:

• 235 entries in the two-day AKC Obedience Classic, including 60 breeds from 30 states, Canada and Puerto Rico
• 35 Junior Obedience entries and 33 Junior Rally entries in the AKC Juniors Classic (Saturday, Dec. 16th for Obedience and Sunday, Dec. 17th for Rally)
• 716 entries in the AKC Agility Invitational, including 166 breeds from 45 states and 4 countries
• 78 entries in the AKC Junior Agility Competition (Friday, Dec. 15th)