2023 AKC National Championship Dog Show Brings Over 9,000 Canine Competitors to Orlando, Florida

2022 AKC National Championship Best in Show Winner, Star the Bulldog – Photo: AKC

ORLANDO, FL, December 14, 2023 – Thousands of dogs and their handlers are in Orlando for North America’s largest dog show. The AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin, breaks records this year with 5,762 dogs competing for the America Kennel Club National Champion title.

The 2023 event culminates with the National Championship winner announced on December 17th. The week of canine competitions also includes the AKC^®/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, the AKC^® Agility Invitational presented by YuMOVE, the AKC^® Obedience Classic, the AKC^® National Owner-Handled Series Finals, the AKC^® Fast CAT^® Invitational and the Junior events. The participating dogs across events total a staggering 9,801 entries. The annual event is the largest dog show in North America. Entrants compete for titles and a share of the $150,000 in prize money, the largest purse amount in the dog show world.

“We are thrilled that the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin continues to maintain its status as one of the world’s leading dog events, and that is in large part to the knowledgeable breeders, exhibitors and judges who are the heart and soul of America’s National Championship,” said Dennis B. Sprung, AKC President and Show Chairman. “Along with our important Agility, Obedience, AKC Fast CAT, NOHS and Junior competitions, it is sure to be an exciting week in December.”

Each AKC-recognized breed is judged in separate rounds to select the National Champion, with the Best of Breed winners advancing to compete in the Group rings. Breeds fall into one of seven Group classifications: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. The first-place winner in each Group advances to the Best in Show competition.

Judges for the awards are:

Best in Show:

Mr. Clay Coady of Paradise Valley, AZ, will select the winner of the AKC National Championship Best in Show (BIS). The owner(s) of the BIS winner will receive $50,000.

Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show:

Mr. Terry Stacy of Durham, NC, will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show from 1,272 entries, and the owner(s) of the winner will receive $15,000. This competition is for dogs that are handled by their breeder/owner.

Best in Stakes:

Mr. Clay Coady, Mr. Terry Stacy, and Mr. Dennis B. Sprung make up the elite panel judging the AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes. These esteemed judges will determine the winner from 1,717 entries to be crowned the AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed (Puppy/Junior) of the Year.

AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals:

Mr. Dennis B. Sprung judges the AKC NOHS Finals Best in Show competition 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 2023 qualifying year and drew an entry of 875 dogs. The NOHS Group Finals will also be streamed live on AKC.tv.

Extensive live coverage runs on AKC.tv throughout the Championship week starting on Tuesday, December 12^th, with the first of three All-Breed dog shows. Also streamed live on AKC.tv will be the AKC Obedience Classic, the AKC Agility Invitational presented by YuMOVE, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series finals, the AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor groups, Best in Miscellaneous, Junior Showmanship, and the evening group competitions. AKC.tv is available online, on the AKC.tv app on the Apple Store and Google Play and Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

Use the links below to watch each live stream on AKC.tv!