The 25th annual AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin will be broadcast on ABC on December 28, 2025, at 12 p.m. ET, showcasing 9,162 total entries, including 5,557 dogs.

The televised special will condense a multi-day competition that brought thousands of dogs from across the United States and 20 countries to compete for national titles. In recent years, however, the competitive dog show landscape has been experiencing shifts, including a general decline in AKC Conformation show entries, despite an increase in overall U.S. dog ownership. This decline is attributed to exhibitors increasingly prioritizing participation in performance events such as Agility, Rally, and .

Organizers describe the event as the largest dog show in North America, with contests across conformation, performance, and junior events. Dog owners interested in participating in local dog shows can begin by ensuring their purebred dogs meet AKC eligibility requirements and using the AKC Event Search to find upcoming competitions.

Gina M. DiNardo, Show Chairperson and AKC President and CEO, highlighted the broadcast’s reach. “We’re excited to bring this milestone event to ABC viewers nationwide,” she said, framing the telecast as a showcase of the sport and its competitors.

The championship is presented by Royal Canin, which provided a statement on the company’s role in supporting competitors. Don MacIntosh, vice president of the professional division at Royal Canin North America, said, “Royal Canin knows the dedication it takes to be the best in show from providing tailored nutrition, to supporting your dog on and off the show floor.” This commitment to excellence is mirrored by dog owners who strive to meet the high standards required in competition.

Production and distribution credits for the TV special go to B Live Productions, which handles the broadcast and livestream. The American Kennel Club, the not-for-profit that maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States, organized the underlying competitions; additional event information is available through the AKC.

Event materials list New York and St. Charles, Mo., among locations associated with the championship’s activities and administration. Officials say the week of competition includes multiple events and titles across breed groups and performance disciplines, with thousands of dogs entered to represent exhibitors and handlers from the U.S. and abroad. Judges assessing dogs in conformation shows use specific criteria, evaluating dogs against their breed’s official standard, which includes factors such as balance, head shape, and coat texture.

People named in promotional materials include sportscaster Carolyn Manno and Bill Ellis, described as “AKC’s own.” Their roles are listed alongside other event personnel in announcements that accompany the broadcast and livestream schedule.

Organizers note the scale of entries in a year that marks the event’s 25th edition: the total of 9,162 entries encompasses the main championship entries of 5,557 dogs and additional entries across related competitions and invitational events. The program will run approximately three hours on ABC.

Royal Canin’s involvement extends beyond sponsorship to support services for competitors, and the company’s professional-division representative reinforced that point in the statement included with event announcements. The combination of corporate sponsorship, an established registry organization, and a dedicated production partner underpins the national broadcast strategy.

The ABC special will present highlights from the championship and select final rounds, packaging multi-day judging and performance competitions for a national audience. Viewers can expect a condensed presentation of conformation finals, performance showcases, and award ceremonies drawn from the larger event weekend.

For more background on the event and official statements from the American Kennel Club about the 25th championship, see the AKC press release and event pages from the organization.

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Original reporting: view the original article.