Britt Jung reflects on judging at the 2025 AKC National Championship, highlighting depth of quality, mentorship, and exhibitor spirit.
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Britt Jung: It is a tremendous honor to be invited to judge at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, and the experience was truly incredible. The show committee is exceptionally attentive to details, with the exhibitor’s experience clearly at the forefront of every decision.
My full assignment on Saturday consisted of seven breeds, with a total entry of 167 dogs—remarkable numbers considering that five of those breeds were low-entry breeds: Barbets, Bracchi Italiani, Lagotti Romagnoli, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, and Wirehaired Vizslas. To me, that speaks volumes. This is a show that members of the dog fancy want to attend.
In each breed, I had between three and five Awards of Excellence to present, in addition to a Best Bred-By-Exhibitor award. When you include Best of Winners, that meant up to 11 awards per breed. Given the depth of quality, it was a privilege to hand ribbons to so many deserving dogs.
At the same time, I noticed many ribbon-less exhibitors taking photos in front of the numerous photo backdrops throughout the venue. That, too, spoke volumes. Exhibitors were having a good time—ribbon or not.
Britt Jung: As I mentioned, the depth of quality across all the breeds I judged was outstanding. It is easy to understand why so many judges attend this event for mentoring opportunities.
I was particularly struck by the impact a small group of dedicated breeders can have on a breed—especially in low-entry breeds. I saw this vividly in Griffons, Bracchi, Barbets, Pointers, and Lagotti. These breeders are not only shaping the breed but are also supporting and mentoring a growing community of owners, exhibitors, and fellow breeders. The thought of that makes my heart swell. Of course, I am making some assumptions, but I observed certain dynamics repeatedly—whether it was a breeder helping another exhibitor adjust a show lead, or an exhibitor taking a dog back into the ring for a handler or breeder. While I can’t always know who bred or owns which dog, it was genuinely rewarding to reflect on these relationships—both human to canine and human to human—as I made my way home.
Britt Jung: The show year has been marked by concerns we’ve heard for some time: there are too many shows; entries are down; the same judges are judging weekend after weekend; clubs are worried about financial solvency; and questions persist about whether the AKC is granting judges new breeds too easily or too stringently.
Today, information travels faster and farther than ever before. Our many media outlets amplify both the highs and the lows, but the lows tend to carry more weight. I’ll leave that as food for thought as we all try to make sense of the information we consume daily. Things can always improve, but they may not be as dismal as they sometimes seem.
Ending the year in Orlando—with three all-breed shows, scores of Specialty shows, a Puppy Showcase, Breeder’s Showcase, Owner-Handled Showcase, and finally the pinnacle event, the AKC National Championship—is a powerful way to bring people together from across the country and around the world to celebrate purebred dogs. Puppies are started there. Stars are retired there.
As for 2026, I feel very positive based on what I observed in Orlando. First, a focus on the exhibitor experience reminds us that lots of people truly do want more than just a ribbon. Second, there are many deeply committed breeders working their tails off to produce healthy, high-quality dogs while building meaningful relationships with owners, exhibitors, and fellow breeders.
It is these relationships—the dog-human bond and the breeder-owner-exhibitor connection—that give me hope and great joy as we move into 2026.
Happy, Happy New Year!
American Kennel Club (AKC)
