The little show dog took home a big win, earning Best in Show at North America's largest dog show. According to a release from the American Kennel Club (AKC), JJ won Best in Show and the $50,000 cash prize that came with it at the 25th AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin.
The event, which included over 5,500 canine competitors, took place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando in mid-December and aired on national television on Dec, 28. ABC aired the 2025 dog show as a three-hour special, which ended with the Best in Show round and JJ's win.
JJ, whose show name is GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice, along with winning Best in Show, also earned the title "America's National Champion." The dog's owner, Susan S Giles of Manakin-Sabot, Va., also won the 2025 AKC Breeder of the Year Award at the competition.
The Lhasa Apso triumphed over six other group-winning dogs in the Best in Show round to emerge as the champion. River, a Gordon Setter, won Reserve Best in Show, the second-place prize for the competition, after winning the Sporting Group earlier in the event.
The rest of the Best in Show round included the winner of the Hound Group, Zaida the Afghan hound; the winner of the Working Group, Penny the Doberman Pinscher; the winner of the Terrier group, Baby Joe the Miniature Schnauzer; the winner of the Toy Group, Aslan the Pomeranian; and the winner of the Herding Group, Graham the Old English Sheep Dog.
The 25th AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canim, along with the confirmation show, also included the AKC Agility Invitational, the AKC Obedience Classic, the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC National Owner- Handled Series Finals, the AKC Rally Champion (RACH) Invitational, the Junior-handler events, and the North America Diving Dogs (NADD) Santa Splash. Counting all the canines who took part in each aspect of the event, the 2025 Championship hosted over 9,000 dogs this year.
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The 25th AKC National Championship caps off an eventful year of dog shows. In November, Soliel the Belgian Sheepdog became the Best in Show winner of the National Dog Show Presented by Purina. The news was announced during the Thanksgiving Day airing of the holiday tradition. Earlier in the year, Monty the Giant Schnauzer left the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with the Best in Show title.