North America’s largest dog show, the AKC National Championship is taking place at the Orange County Convention Center now through Sunday. With over 5,500 dogs in competition from all 50 states and around the world, handlers and dogs are prepping and taking the ring while eyeing a top prize of $50,000. Here are some sights from around the show.
Old English Sheepdog Sawyer Truman gets his coat brushed out by owner Ashley Olt from Haddon Heights, New Jersey, at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. Olt said that getting ready for the show takes about three hours of detailed teasing and an additional three hours to dry him out to get 3-year-old Sawyer Truman, a Conformation Grand Champion, ready for the ring. “People don’t know how much product goes into these dogs — a lot of hairspray, cornstarch, and chalk to make them look like they do in the ring and on TV,” said Olt. Billed as North America’s largest dog show, with over 5,500 competition dogs from all 50 states and around the world competing for a top prize of $50,000, the event is taking place at the Orange County Convention Center through Sunday. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Competition Judge Patsy Hollings gives a Wire Fox Terrier a thorough look-over at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Mary Ann Archuleta does some fine detailing to 2-year-old Maltese Lux before heading into the ring to compete at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025.(Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Gary and Sheila Hoskins get their 3-year-old Mini American Shepherd, Jordan, ready to take on the competition in the herding division at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. Sheila Hoskins said that “the size of the show and the amount of dogs competing could be intimidating to someone new to presenting.” However, she added that their experience competing as much as twice a month with Jordan, who is a bronze champion, makes it an exciting show to be part of.(Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Bruni, a 3-year-old Australian Shepherd, is such a good boy as he and handler Jen Niebauer watch and size up the competition of the other Australian Shepherds in the ring at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Australian Shepherd Rockey and Maya Fuqua, age 11, from La Mesa, New Mexico, run the agility course while competing in the junior division at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025.(Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Competition Judge Katherine Alexandra Wright gives a Russell Terrier a thorough look-over at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Competition Judge Vicki Sandage gives a Collie in the rough category a thorough look-over at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
A group of Maltese are ready and waiting their turn to compete at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025.(Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Competition Judge Vicki Sandage gives a Collie in the rough category a thorough look-over at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Australian Shepherd Rockey and Maya Fuqua, age 11, from La Mesa, New Mexico, run the agility course while competing in the junior division at the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12, 2025.(Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)