Watch the AKC National Championship on Animal Planet on New Year's Day

This post is sponsored by Royal Canin. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Royal Canin's sponsorship of the AKC National Championship, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Royal Canin is not responsible for the content of this article.

Looking for an alternative to Bowl Games this New Year's Day? Then mark your calendar for  Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 at 7 pm ET. That's when the AKC National Championship Dog Show presented by Royal Canin™ will premiere on Animal Planet. An encore of the special will air at 11 p.m. ET.

A few weeks ago we attended the event live in Orlando and we can tell you it's an event you won't want to miss!

This is one of the most prestigious dog shows in North America, and the largest, with more than 8,600 entries so there's no shortage of extraordinary dogs. 

Oy with the Poodles already! Seriously, the Poodles as well as all the dogs were truly magnificent!

AKC National Championship by the numbers

• Dogs from 50 states and 44 countries will vie for Best in Show
• The AKC National Championship celebrates its 17th year
• The show offers the biggest monetary award in the word of dog sports -- more than $150,000
• A record number 8,600 entries represent all 190 AKC breeds

This show pup reminded me of Rocco Havanese, though this beautiful pup is a Lhasa Apso, ready for the ring

Actor and dog lover Jerry O'Connell serves as this year's guest host, joining co-hosts, sportscasters Jason Knapp and Sam Ryan and AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. As part of the telecast, O'Connell will take the Animal Planet audience on a behind the scenes look at the largest dog show in the country, including highlights from each competition category, including agility, dock diving and Best in Show.

Dock diving pup!

We can't wait to see the show on New Year's Day. In the meantime, check out lots of photos and videos on live.royalcanin.com.

And don't forget to tune in to Animal Planet at 7 p.m. ET on New Year's Day for the airing of the AKC National Championship dog show.

This Corgi's ready to rock 'n roll in the show ring.