Tickets on Sale for a Doggone Good Time at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

Tickets on Sale for a Doggone Good Time at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

Planet's Greatest Dog Show Celebrates Its Fifth Year With Live Broadcasts

NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready, Florida! Tampa is going to the dogs, and it's going to be fun. Don't miss the tail-wagging, heart- pounding action when dog handlers from around the world compete with 1,500 champion canines for the top-dog honor during the 2006 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, Jan. 14 - 15.

Tickets are on sale now at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or by calling (813) 301-2500, so don't miss your chance to see this one-of-a-kind event at the Tampa Convention Center and St. Pete Times Forum. Adult admission for the National Championship is $29. Seniors and military will be $24. Children ages 2 through 18 will be $13 (children under 2 are free). One ticket is good for your attendance at both days of the event. (Ticket prices for one day are $20, $17 for seniors and military, $7 for children and free for children under age two.)

But if you can't attend the event, you can still get in on the action. The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will be simulcast live from Tampa by Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, starting at 8 p.m. EST both nights.

"This event has developed into an exciting tradition for competitors who are highly involved in the sport, as well as for dog lovers in general," says Ronald H. Menaker, AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show chairperson. "This is a show that dog lovers have looked forward to all year."

Meet the Breeds

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will highlight responsible dog ownership with "AKC Meet the Breeds." The event offers an excellent opportunity for the public to meet members of the canine fancy who will share their insights and expertise on the breeds' unique qualities and characteristics. Breed clubs will have adult dogs and puppies from approximately 150 AKC breeds on display. "AKC Meet the Breeds" will be held both days -- Jan. 14 - 15 -- at the Tampa Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free with the purchase of any ticket to the dog show.

One-of-a-kind Event

Invitations to the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship are issued to dogs ranking in the top 25 of their breed based on year-long competition in AKC events. Any dog receiving an all-breed "Best in Show" at an AKC show held during the qualifying period also receives an invitation, as does the top- ranked dog in each AKC-registered breed from those countries around the world with registries that issue pedigrees acceptable for AKC registration. Dogs from Asia, Europe and South America are expected to compete.

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is the largest prize money dog show in the world, with cash and prizes awarded totaling more than $225,000. This year, both Canine Chronicle and Pet Supermarket join as event sponsors.

AKC National Agility Championships and Obedience Invitational

Not only will the top show dog be crowned at the National Championship, but two other exciting champions also will be named over the course of the two-day event -- the National Agility Champion and the National Obedience Champion. Agility events, the AKC's fastest-growing canine sport, allow dogs to demonstrate their agile nature and versatility by overcoming a challenging obstacle course. This year, over 500 dogs and their handlers will race toward the title of National Agility Champion by completing various courses in the shortest time and with the fewest errors.

In the sport of obedience, the dog and handler are judged as a team. The performance of the nearly 150 teams will be judged on how closely the dog and handler match the "perfect picture" of teamwork as they execute a series of specified exercises.

For more information, visit http://www.topdogshow.com/ .

The American Kennel Club (AKC(R)), founded in 1884, maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world. Its rules and regulations govern more than 16,000 canine competitions each year. The AKC and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership.

The Iams Company, founded in 1946, is committed to enhancing the well- being of dogs and cats by providing world-class quality foods and pet care products and services.

Animal Planet, available in over 86 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network's original programming brings together people of all ages by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals and providing an entertaining mix of programming.

Web Sites: http://www.topdogshow.com

Source: The Iams Company

CONTACT: Kurt Iverson of The Iams Company, +1-937-264-7436, or
iverson.k@pg.com ; or Daisy Okas of American Kennel Club, +1-212-696-8342, or
dlo@akc.org ; or Brian Cox of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-816-512-2252, or
coxb@fleishman.com

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