AKC National Championship
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.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 | Alaskan Malamute | CH Nanuke's Snoklassic No Boundaries | Costello |
| 2006 | English Springer Spaniel | CH [Felicity's Diamond Jim (James)|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 |
| 2019 | Pekingese | GCH CH Pequest Wasabi | Wasabi |
| 2020 | Whippet | GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon | Bourbon |
| 2021 | Giant Schnauzer | GCHG CH Lagniappe's From The Mountains To The Bayou | Bayou |
| 2022 | Bulldog | GCHG Cherokee Legend Encore | Star |
| 2023 | Shih Tzu | GCHG CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World | Comet |
| 2024 | Giant Schnauzer | GCHG Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB | Monty |
| 2025 | Lhasa Apso | GCHP Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice | JJ |