The highest prize in the world of Conformation dog shows is Best in Show at the AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin. Only one overall winner can be crowned, but seven dogs came out on top in each group out of 5,600 competitors. After a weekend of intense competition from December 14-15 at the Orlando County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The winners were announced in a broadcast on ABC that aired on December 29, 2024.
Group winners in each category competed first among the dogs in their breeds to determine Best in Breed. Then, dogs in each breed went on to compete against all other dogs in their group: the Herding Group, Hound Group, Non-Sporting Group, Sporting Group, Terrier Group, Toy Group, and Working Group. Out of the winners of each group, the Best in Show winner and Reserve Best in Show winner were chosen on Sunday night, judged by Mr. Carl Liepmann. See the 2024 AKC National Championship group winners below.
Best in Group
Each AKC-recognized dog breed falls into one of seven group classifications:
- Herding: These dogs were bred to help shepherds and ranchers herd their livestock. The Collie, Australian Shepherd, and Belgian Sheepdog are some of the breeds in this group.
- Hound: These breeds were bred for hunting other game by sight or scent. These breeds include such dogs as Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Greyhounds.
- Non-Sporting: This diverse group includes the Chow Chow, Dalmatian, and French Bulldog. These dogs vary in size and function, and many are considered companion dogs.
- Sporting: These dogs were bred to hunt game birds both on land and in the water. The breeds in this group include Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels.
- Terrier: This group includes breeds such as the Bedlington Terrier, Cairn Terrier, and Scottish Terrier. Terriers were bred to rid property of vermin such as rats.
- Toy: These dogs were bred to be household companions. This group includes little dogs such as the Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and Pug.
- Working: These dogs were bred to pull carts, guard property, and perform search and rescue services. Among the breeds in this group are the Akita, Boxer, and Saint Bernard.
Herding Group
Herding Group Winner
The winner of the Herding Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship was German Shepherd Dog 鈥淢ercedes鈥� GCHP CH Kaleef鈥檚 Mercedes, who also won the group at the same event in 2023. Mercedes is owned by Cynthian Wilhelmy and Sheree Moses of Bethesda, MD, and was bred by Sheree Moses Combs, Lauren Arbaugh, Madeline Llewellyn, and Jeanne Hamilton.
Herding Group Placements
- German Shepherd Dog GCHP CH Kaleef鈥檚 Mercedes
- Berger Picard GCHG CH Eclipse Ace In The Hole
- Miniature American Shepherd GCHP CH Alta Oceans Symphony of The Seas
- Old English Sheepdog GCH CH Bugaboo鈥檚 Give Me Smore鈥�
Hound Group
Hound Group Winner
The Hound Group winner at the 2024 AKC National Championship was Afghan Hound 鈥淟ouis鈥� GCHP2 CH Sunlit鈥檚 King Of Queens. Louis is owned by Alicia Morrison Jones and Jamie Souza Bartlett of Roseville, CA. Louis was bred by Tara Richardson, Pam Winkelmeier, and Norma Feldman.
Hound Group Placements
- Afghan Hound 鈥淟ouis鈥� GCHP2 CH Sunlit鈥檚 King Of Queens
- Whippet 鈥泪惫测鈥� GCHG CH Pinnacle Garden Party
- Azawakh 鈥淟别虫鈥� GCHB CH Lex Ayur-Es-Sahel
- Otterhound 鈥淢别濒辞诲测鈥� GCHS CH Dobhran鈥檚 Alexa Play Some Music
Non-Sporting Group
Non-Sporting Group Winner
The winner of the Non-Sporting Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship was was Bichen Frise 鈥淣eal鈥� GCHS CH Top Speed Neal. Neal is owned by Ellen Charles, Fan Yang, and Nancy Brown of Mabank, TX. Neal was bred by Cuibin Xie.
Non-Sporting Group Placements
- Bichen Frise 鈥淣eal鈥� GCHS CH Top Speed Neal
- Xoloitzcuintli GCHG CH Master Rock Calaco (Alonso Tojo)
- Schipperke GCHB CH Delamer Summer Sand Elle
- Lhasa Apso 鈥淛闯鈥� GCHG CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice
Sporting Group
Sporting Group Winner
The winner of the Sporting Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship was Gordon Setter 鈥淩iver鈥� GCHB CH Tamarack Valley View River Of Dreams. River is owned by Dr. Ellen Shanahan and Stacy Threlfall of Great Barrington, MA. River was bred by Brian Hubbard, Matthew McGillivray, and JoAnne Van Aller.
Sporting Group Placements
- Gordon Setter 鈥淩iver鈥� GCHB CH Tamarack Valley View River Of Dreams
- Pointer 鈥淏ulleit鈥� GCHG CH Tahari N Clearcreek Spirit In The Night
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever 鈥淐ota鈥� GCHG CH Next Generation鈥檚 Accelerate
- Lagotto Romagnolo 鈥淗arry鈥� GCHG CH Boardwalk Here Comes The Sun FDC BCAT DS DJ CGCA TKA ATT VSWB
Terrier Group
Terrier Group Winner
The Terrier Group winner at the 2024 AKC National Championship was Welsh Terrier 鈥淰erde鈥� GCHB CH Studio Be Curious Jp Justice Hero. Verde is owned by Jill See, Yuko Iguchi, Gabriel Rangel, and Ivonne Rangle of Somis, CA. Verde was bred by Yuko Iguchi.
Terrier Group Placements
- Welsh Terrier 鈥淰erde鈥� GCHB CH Studio Be Curious Jp Justice Hero
- Norwich Terrier GCHG CH Maystar鈥檚 Shonleh Michan Ruddy Duck
- Airedale Terrier GCHG CH Longvue Dare To Dream
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier GCHG CH Keepsake鈥檚 Fashion Icon
Toy Group
Toy Group Winner
The winner of the Toy Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship was Miniature Pinscher 鈥淰alentina鈥� CH Rexroth Kimro Valentina. Valentina is owned by Steve and Lesley Walters, Kimberly Calvacca, and Robin Greenslade of Westbury, NY. Valentina was bred by Lesley Rita Walter, Stefan Walter, and Kimberly Calvacca.
Toy Group Placements
- Miniature Pinscher 鈥淰alentina鈥� CH Rexroth Kimro Valentina
- Havanese GCHP CH Wynmark鈥檚 Les Bijoux鈥檚 Rock鈥橬 Rolz At Reverie
- Brussels Griffon 鈥淩oxanne鈥� CH Huntwood鈥檚 Roxanne Don鈥橳 Put On The Red Light
- Pomeranian 鈥淐ory鈥� SUN POMS LOVE CORY
Working Group
Working Group Winner
The winner of the Working Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship was Giant Schnauzer 鈥淢onty鈥� GCHG CH Hearthmore鈥檚 Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB. Monty is owned by Katie Bernadin, Sandra Nordstrom, and C. Ambrose of Ocean City, NJ. Monty was bred by Cherlann Ambrose.
Working Group Placements
- Giant Schnauzer 鈥淢onty鈥� GCHG CH Hearthmore鈥檚 Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB
- Great Dane GCHP CH Eb The Relentless Pursuit Of Perfection
- Kuvasz 鈥淐udar鈥� GCHG CH Emek Hayarden Cudar
- Standard Schnauzer 鈥淩oger鈥� GCHS CH Straw Hat Here To Love
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 . They might be competing for the coveted Best in Show title in December!聽