‘Star’ the Bulldog Wins 2022 AKC National Championship ‘Best in Show’

A new “star” has been born, American Kennel Club officials announced Monday.

The country’s canine registry has crowned the winner of its annual purebred dog competition – ‘Star’ – a bulldog who won the event’s top prize at the 22nd annual AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin.

Named for the show “GCHG CH Cherokee Legend Encore,” the bully won Best in Show and a $50,000 cash prize during the competition at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Overall show totals, which include the AKC Agility Invitational, AKC Obedience Classic, AKC/Royal Canine National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC Owner-Handled Series National Finals, AKC Fast CAT Invitational, Junior-handler events and the North America Diving Dogs Santa Splash special attraction, topped 9,395 entries.

Texans Kevin and NatalieMason traveled to Florida to watch the championship where their 3.5-year-old Bulldog beat 5,376 dogs in competition this year.

There they saw Star win Best of Breed against around 30 Bulldogs judged by Dr. Steven Keating.

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Owned by the Masons and Alaina Moulton and bred by Cody T. Sickle, Sherry Hazelett and Connie A. Chambers, Star won in the non-sporting group of the event before advancing to the Best in Show round.

There, six other talented pooches joined Star: Bogart the Schnauzer, winner of the Working Group, Trumpet the Bloodhound, winner of the Hound Group; Josie the Spinone Italiano, winner of the Sporting Group; Stache the Sealyham Terrier, winner of the Terrier group; Clark the Havanese, Toy Group winner; and Mercedes the German Shepherd, winner of the Herding Group.

Bogart was the runner-up this year, earning the dog the title of Reserve Best in Show.

The show aired on ABC on Sunday, and the live broadcast of all of the weekend’s events is available for replay on AKC.tv.

Star’s win in Orlando marked his 18th Best in Show, AKC reported.

“She is so beautiful and so correct as a Bulldog,” said Judge Desmond Murphy, whose expertise in Bully breeds is recognized around the world.

Murphy, the AKC reported, was instrumental in creating the unique “BullyGanza” competition held annually at the Santa Barbara Kennel Club.

This year, Star won it: a first for a Bulldog.

Contributor: Associated Press.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.