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The AKC has released the judging panel for the 2026 Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes, set for December 11 in Orlando.
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NEW YORK, NY (May 26, 2026) – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes will be held on December 11, 2026.
Best in Stakes will be judged on Friday, December 11th, by an elite panel of three judges: Dr. Thomas M. Davies, Mr. David J. Kirkland and Mr. Daniel J. Smyth, Esq.
| Sporting Group | Breed Assignments |
| Doug Belter | Barbet, Bracco Italiano, Lagotto Ramagnolo, Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, Pointer, Curly-Coated Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, American Water Spaniel, Boykin Spaniel, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel (All Varieties), English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Small Munsterlander |
| Mary Dukes | Brittany, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever |
| Eileen Hackett | German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Golden Retriever, English Setter, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Irish Red & White Setter, Vizsla, Weimaraner |
| Bryan Martin | Labrador Retriever |
| Nancy Martin | Spinone Italiano, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Vizsla |
| Hound Group | Breed Assignments |
| Patricia Anne Keenan | American English Coonhound, American Foxhound, Azawakh, Basenji, Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Basset Hound, Dachshund (All Varieties), Redbone Coonhound, Whippet |
| Sarah Murphy | Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Cirneco dell ‘Etna, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Plott Hound, Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Norbottenspet, Portuguese Podengo, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Treeing Walker Coonhound |
| Anna Stromberg | Afghan Hound, Beagle (Both Varieties), Borzoi, English Foxhound, Greyhound, Harrier, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Scottish Deerhound, Sloughi |
| Working Group | Breed Assignments |
| Marianne Conti | Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black Russian Terrier, Boerboel, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Komondor, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Samoyed, Pyrenean Mastiff, Kai Ken |
| Colton Johnson | Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky |
| Channing Sheets | Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Chinook, Danish Swedish Farmdog, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux. German Pinscher, Giant Schnauzer, Kuvasz, Leonberger, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Portuguese Water Dog, Standard Schnauzer, Tibetan Mastiff, Czechoslovakian Vlack, Yakutian Laika |
| Terrier Group | Breed Assignments |
| Tracy Szaras | Australian Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Rat Terrier, Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, West Highland White Terrier |
| Phillip Booth | Airedale Terrier, American Hairless Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Border Terrier, Bull Terrier (Both Varieties), Irish Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Standard Manchester Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Welsh Terrier |
| Toy Group | Breed Assignments |
| Mary Dukes | Poodle (Toy) |
| Kurt Kroemer | Papillon, Russian Toy, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Bolognese |
| Lani Kroemer | Affenpinscher, Biewer Terrier, Brussels Griffon, English Toy Spaniel (All Varieties), Pug, Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, Toy Fox Terrier |
| Nancy Martin | Italian Greyhound, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Toy Manchester Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier |
| Kim Russell | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua (Both Varieties), Chinese Crested |
| Non-Sporting Group | Breed Assignments |
| Mary Dukes | Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar Pei, Chow Chow, Coton de Tulear, Keeshond, Lhasa Apso, Löwchen, Norwegian Lundehund, Poodle (Miniature), Poodle (Standard) |
| Tammie Sommerson-Wilcox | American Eskimo Dog, Dalmatian, Finnish Spitz, French Bulldog, Schipperke, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Xoloitzcuintli, Alaskan Klee Kai, German Spitz, Japanese Akitainu |
| Herding Group | Breed Assignments |
| Rosalind Kramer | Beauceron, Berger Picard, Briard, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Lancashire Heeler, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Spanish Water Dog, Swedish Vallhund |
| Colton Johnson | Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Belgian Laekenois, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Bergamasco, Miniature American Shepherd, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Pyrenean Shepherd, Pyrenean Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, Dutch Shepherd |
| Bryan Martin | Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, Bouvier des Flandres, Canaan Dog, Collie (Both Varieties), Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Finnish Lapphund, German Shepherd Dog, Icelandic Sheepdog, Mudi, Norwegian Buhund, Old English Sheepdog, Puli, Pumi |
*Panel subject to final approval.
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Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 4,900 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 28,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred and mixed breed dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, scent work, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests.
Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite, the AKC Museum of the Dog, and the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank. For more information, visit www.akc.org.
AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @americankennelclub
About ROYAL CANIN®
ROYAL CANIN® is part of the Royal Canin Division in the Mars, Incorporated group, and a global leader in Health Through Nutrition for cats and dogs fulfilling its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Founded in 1968 by French veterinarian, Dr. Jean Cathary, ROYAL CANIN® designs precise, science-based nutrition for cats and dogs available at pet specialty retailers and veterinary practices worldwide.
Over the years, ROYAL CANIN® has pushed the limits of nutrition and knowledge in partnership with pet professionals, including breeders and veterinarians. Its unique business approach puts the nutritional requirements of cats and dogs at the heart of innovation. Pet’s age, lifestyle, size, breed, and sensitivities are studied through science and observation to produce diets that meet their specific needs.
ROYAL CANIN® generates value not only for pets, but also for people and the planet. This means being mutually beneficial to the ecosystem, empowering Associates, building enduring relationships with stakeholders, and always thinking about how to ensure a viable future for generations to come.
To learn more about ROYAL CANIN®, visit www.royalcanin.com and follow us on Instagram at @royalcaninus.
Media Contacts:
Brandi Hunter Munden
American Kennel Club
Alyssa Harrison
Royal Canin
American Kennel Club (AKC)
