ROYAL CANIN U.S., a division of Mars and a leader in pet health nutrition, and The American Kennel Club (AKC), the world's largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for all dogs, have announced a five-year renewal of their multi-year agreement. This renewal designates Royal Canin as the title and exclusive pet food sponsor of the AKC National Championship. The AKC National Championship dog show is the largest dog show in North America, featuring thousands of dogs competing for the coveted title of America's National Champion.
As one of the world's premiere dog events, entrants must qualify at prior events during the year before being able to compete at the AKC National Championship. In 2023, the show saw a record-breaking number of submissions; more than 5,700 dogs competed in the 23rd year of the event, featuring representation across all 200 AKC recognized breeds.
"At Royal Canin, we're passionate about breeds and what makes each one incredibly unique," said Daryn Brown, regional president, Royal Canin North America. "We are thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with the American Kennel Club to celebrate the magnificence of each breed on the largest stage in the country."
In addition to title sponsorship of the AKC National Championship, Royal Canin's sponsorship will extend across several AKC programs, including AKC Breeder of Merit, Breeder Education, Breed of the Day, Dog Name Finder and MyAKC Tool.
"The AKC National Championship is a celebration of the top canine competitors in the country, as well as the beauty of the human and canine bond," said Dennis B. Sprung, president and CEO, AKC. "Our treasured relationship with Royal Canin has enabled this cornerstone event to grow to record-breaking entries each year. We are very proud to continue this relationship and showcase the best our sport has to offer."
As part of the agreement, EUKANUBA will serve as the official partner of the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE Awards), a special program that celebrates loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and/or communities.
The 2024 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2024.
To learn more about the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, visit AKC National Championship.
