2,312 dogs from around the globe will soon be descending upon Long Beach, California to compete in the 8th annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. You’ll get to see rare breeds such as the Briquet Griffon Vendeen or the Xoloitzcuintli competing against the more traditional breeds for the title of World Challenge Champion and prize money of $15,000.

A total of $225,000 in cash prizes is up for grabs during the two-day event taking place December 13th and 14th. The AKC Obedience Agility Invitational and the AKC Obedience Invitational will also be held in conjunction with the event seeing nearly 3,000 dogs in total competing in all the events.

If you’re interested in attending or learning more about this event, please visit:

Purchase tickets at http://www.akc.org/invitational/2007/tickets.cfm
For a complete schedule of events visit http://www.akc.org/invitational/2008/schedule_events.cfm

Or, if you can’t make the event be sure to tune into Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009 from 8-11 p.m. (ET/PT).  Highlights from the AKC Agility Invitational will air on Animal Planet on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

The name Xoloitzcuintli, pronounced show-low-etz-queent-lee, (also known as the Mexican Hairless) is derived from the name of the Aztec Indian god Xolotl and Itzcuintli, the Aztec word for dog.


Photo AKC