CHAIRMAN’S MEMO
Bigger, Better AKC
National Championship
RON
MENAKER
A
s time marches into autumn, the new season signals
the thrilling culmination of another wonderful year in
the sport of dogs. We mark the occasion with an event
like no other: The AKC National Championship. Now in its 16th
year, our National Championship show will be held this December 17-18 in Orlando, Fla., with a new sponsor, Royal Canin. Founded in 1968 by a veterinarian, the science-based
brand offers a range of diets designed for size, age, breed
and lifestyle requirements. Royal Canin’s commitment
to breed-specific nutrition and health falls notably in line with our mission to “advance
the study, breeding, exhibiting, running,
and maintenance of purebred dogs.”
We are tremendously grateful to Royal
Canin for their support, and we are
delighted to be working with their
experienced and dedicated team to
make the 16th AKC National Championship our best event ever.
Competitions and Prizes
The AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin hosts more than
5,000 of the top national and international
dogs competing to take home the biggest prizes, as well as an exciting mix of competitions that
make this show the most diverse and crowd-pleasing event
of the year, including:
s "EST "RED
BY
%XHIBITOR #OMPETITION
s !+# .ATIONAL /WNER
(ANDLED 3ERIES &INALS
s !+# !GILITY )NVITATIONAL
s !+# /BEDIENCE #LASSIC
s !+# "REEDER OF THE 9EAR !WARDS
s .ORTH !MERICAN $IVING $OGS
s *UNIORS COMPETITIONS IN EACH SPORT
s !+# -EET 4HE "REEDS®
These competitions and events, offered with both competitors and the public in mind, are a testament to the fact that
the National Championship truly has something for everyone
who loves dogs.
Prizes for all of our winners remain generous, including
FOR "EST IN 3HOW FOR "EST "RED
BY
%XHIBITOR
IN 3HOW FOR ALL 'ROUP AND "RED
BY
%XHIBITOR 'ROUP
7INNERS AND MORE "EST IN 3HOW AND 'ROUP WINNERS WILL
14
DOGSinREVIEW.com
enjoy the additional prize of a year’s supply of dog food. This
YEAR ) AM PROUD TO SAY THE "EST *UNIOR COMPETITION WILL IN
clude more than $5,000 in scholarships provided by the AmerICAN +ENNEL #LUB (ONORING THE NEXT GENERATION IS ONE OF THE
best ways we can uphold the legacy of our sport.
For all of the details about the National Championship,
and to place your entries, please consult the premium list
on akc.org.
Enhancements for 2016
There are several wonderful enhancements coming to the show as a result of
our new relationship with Royal Canin.
Televised Broadcast: ) AM DE
lighted to announce that the AKC
National Championship will be returning to television. Royal Canin
will air a three-hour broadcast on
THE (ALLMARK #HANNEL IN *ANUARY
and will include coverage of the conformation dog show as well as highlights of
the other events taking place throughout
THE WEEKEND %XACT DATE AND TIMES ARE TO
be announced in the near future.
Live Stream: For those who can’t be with
us in Orlando, our show will stream live on akc.org
STARTING AT PM BOTH 3ATURDAY AND 3UNDAY EVENINGS ,AST
year, we had more than 6 million streams across two days,
and this year we anticipate an even wider audience. Fans will
ALSO BE ABLE TO TUNE IN FOR LIVE AIRINGS OF THE 3ATURDAY AND
3UNDAY EVENING COMPETITIONS ON &IDO 46
New Venue Design: The 2016 show will move to the West
"UILDING OF /RLANDOS /RANGE #OUNTY #ONVENTION #ENTER 4HE
AKC National Championship is expanding to approximately 1
million square feet to accommodate the ever-growing interest
in the show, allowing for more exhibitor, grooming and vendor
space. With our new partnership, our show gains a new name
and logo, attendees will notice a change to the venue decor,
which will now feature Royal Canin’s signature red color with
gold accents in and around all of the show rings and the brand’s
iconic black-and-white breed imagery throughout the venue.
Regalia: A Royal Celebration for Those Who Champion
Purebred Dogs. New this year will be a celebration and awards
ceremony hosted by Royal Canin specifically for breeders and
those who champion purebred dogs. “Regalia” will take place