The American Kennel Club is pleased to again welcome the International community to the fourth annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show. The event will take place on January 15, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. A new element for the show is that the Group and Best in Show judging will be broadcast live on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channels.

The 2003 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship’s competition was intensified by the addition of international entries for the first time. Dogs from 9 foreign kennel clubs participated including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Coats Rica, Hong Kong and Malasia.

Each participating country’s national kennel club will determine the system used to select the top dogs in each breed that will be eligible for an invitation to the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. In the UK, The Kennel Club has decided that all 2004 Crufts Best of Breed winners in each AKC registrable breed will receive an invitation. Additionally, five other KC Champions in each breed have the opportunity to enter on a first come basis.

The AKC is pleased that it will be able to once again bring its three most popular national events together to one venue. In addition to the National Championship, the AKC National Agility Championship and the AKC National Obedience Invitational Championship will also be held on Saturday and Sunday, January 15 - 16, 2005 in Tampa, FL.

The American Kennel Club is excited to be on hand at Crufts this year to share information about their event with the spectators. For more information stop by The American Kennel Club stand which will be located in Hall 3 Stand 80 or contact the American Kennel Club via email at Invitational@akc.org. Further information is available on the AKC’s website at www.akc.org.