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How to watch the 2021 AKC National Championship

By Wesley Coburn

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: A woman wears a mask as she grooms a Miniature Schnauzer on day one of Crufts 2020 at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Crufts, the world’s biggest dog show got under way this morning. The annual event has restrictions in place due to the coronavirus outbreak however is still expected to attract thousands of dogs and their owners to the four day event. Royal Canin, a petfood company and one of the dog show’s major sponsors, advised its representatives to stay away from large events like Crufts "unless it is business critical.”(Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: A woman wears a mask as she grooms a Miniature Schnauzer on day one of Crufts 2020 at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Crufts, the world’s biggest dog show got under way this morning. The annual event has restrictions in place due to the coronavirus outbreak however is still expected to attract thousands of dogs and their owners to the four day event. Royal Canin, a petfood company and one of the dog show’s major sponsors, advised its representatives to stay away from large events like Crufts "unless it is business critical.”(Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) /
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Dog shows make for a nice change of pace from college football or basketball games on the weekends, and here’s how to watch the 2021 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin.

This event took place December 18-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, and saw more than 5,000 dogs from every American Kennel Club-recognized breed and variety represented.

As always, this was the culmination of a variety of lead-in dog shows from local clubs and other dog sports like Fast CAT, obedience and agility, and spectators were again allowed after being absent during the first pandemic show.

It was livestreamed on the free streaming app AKC.tv with commentary by Gina DiNardo, Bill Ellis and Carolyn Manno, with public address announcer duties in the ring handled by Kevin Skinner.

The 2021 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin will air on ABC on Sunday, January 2, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

Here’s how to watch the 2021 AKC National Championship dog show.

Event sponsors include AT&T (which sponsored a behind-the-scenes camera angle), Apoquel anti-itch pet medicine, AKC Pet Insurance, Calmer Canine supplements, Lowe’s, Swiffer, Tractor Supply Company and Retrievist.

This will be the second year that the season-ending event has aired on ABC as part of a multi-year AKC/ESPN TV deal that was signed in 2020.

If you’re not quite sure how dog shows work, see here for a guide to the basics, and here’s what the the pros wish the average casual viewer knew about the conformation world.

The 2020 champion of the event was Bourbon the Whippet from the Hound Group, whose registered name is GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, who was handled by Cheslie Smithey. Her litter brother Whiskey was tthe 2018 national champion.

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Again, the 2021 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin will air on ABC on Sunday, January 2 at 2 p.m. ET.

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