- standard schnauzer
- spinone italiano
- sealyham terrier
- AKC National Championship
- hound group
- herding group
- working group
- sporting group
- non-sporting group
- german shepherd dog
- toy group
- bulldog
- bloodhound
- terrier group
- havanese
The 2022 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin took place on December 18 and 19 in Orlando, Florida. Thousand of dogs competed for Best of Breed; the winner of each breed then went on to Group competitions. The winners of each of the seven Groups then competed for the coveted title of Best in Show.
Best in Group
Each breed recognized by the AKC belongs to one of seven breed Groups, outlined below:
Sporting Group
Dogs in the Sporting Group were bred to hunt game birds alongside humans both in the water and on land. Examples of breeds in this group are the English Cocker Spaniel and Labrador Retriever.
Hound Group
Dogs in the Hound Group were mostly bred to hunt game. Examples of breeds in this group are the Beagle and Greyhound.
Working Group
Dogs in the Working Group were bred to help humans with important tasks. Today, they excel at a variety of jobs, like search and rescue. Examples of breeds in this group are the Boxer and Saint Bernard.
Terrier Group
Dogs in the Terrier Group were bred to hunt and kill vermin. Examples of breeds in this group are the Airedale Terrier and Cairn Terrier.
Toy Group
Dogs in the Toy Group are often small in size and were bred to house companions. Examples of breeds in this group are the Chihuahua and Pug.
Non-Sporting Group
Dogs in the Non-Sporting Group are often companion dogs, varying in size, function, and origin. Examples of breeds in this group are the Chow Chow and Poodle.
Herding Group
Dogs in the Herding Group were bred to work with livestock, assisting farmers, shepherds, or ranchers in guarding and guiding animals like sheep or cows. Examples of breeds in this group are the Australian Shepherd and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Group Winners of the 2022 AKC National Championship
Sporting Group
GCHG CH Collina D’Oro Solo Un Bacio, a Spinone Italiano known as “Josie,” owned by Claire Abraham & Stacey Belt of Lovettsville, VA and bred by Stacey Anderson Belt and Lorne Belt.
Hound Group
GCHS CH Flessner’s Toot My Own Horn, a Bloodhound known as “Trumpet,” owned by Chris & Bryan Flessner &Tina Kocar & Heather Helmer of St. Joseph, IL and bred by Bryan Flessner, Chris Flessner, Tina M Kocar, Heather Buehner.
Working Group
GCHG CH Crivitz Humphrey Bogart Von Diable, a Standard Schnauzer known as “Bogart,” owned by Amy Shaffer & J Low & W Matthews III & T Skinner of Crivitz, WI and bred by Amy Shaffer.
Terrier Group
GCHG CH Goodspice Efbe Money Stache, a Sealyham Terrier known as “Stache,” owned by Margery Good & Emily Bennett & F Bergeron & L Spiegel of Haltom City, TX and bred by Margery L Good, France Bergeron.
Toy Group
GCHP CH Kolmar’s & Los Feliz The Man Of Steel, a Havanese known as “Clark,” owned by Anne Stevenson & Nancy Brown & Gary Brown & L Soar of Seattle, WA and bred by Mark W Kolbe.
Non-Sporting Group
GCHG CH Cherokee Legend Encore, a Bulldog known as “Star,” owned by Alaina Moulton, Kevin Mason & Natalie Mason of Glen Rose, TX and bred by Cody T Sickle, Sherry Hazelett, Connie A Chambers.
Herding Group
GCH CH Kaleef’s Mercedes, a German Shepherd Dog known as “Mercedes,” owned by Cynthian Wilhelmy of Edgerton, WI and bred by Sheree Moses, Lauren Figler, Madeline Llewellyn, Jeanne Hamilton.
The AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin, is the dog world’s biggest event of the year! Learn more about conformation and follow your favorite breeds at dog shows throughout the year. They might be competing for the coveted Best in Show title in December!