History of the Show Dogs of the Year Awards

Purina^® Pro Plan's^® Show Dogs of the Year Awards, presented by Dogs in Review, has spent the past 54 years celebrating the excellence of the top group winning show dogs, along with their owners, handlers and breeders. In order to win an award, a dog must achieve the most group wins during a single calendar year at American Kennel Club - sanctioned conformation shows. It takes a combined effort to win a Show Dogs of the Year Award. First, it takes an outstanding, cooperating canine and second, an owner who is dedicated, understanding, generous and committed. Third, there is the handler—an expert, energetic, caring professional and, fourth, all the eager assistants who work behind the scenes. Last, there is the breeder who must care and execute an exceptional breeding program from generation to generation.

Purina^® Pro Plan's^® Show Dogs of the Year Awards, presented by Dogs in Review, are held in the highest esteem by the dog fancy and represent the best of the breeds who have shown consistency in winning, show after show. Many have come back to win several years in a row, demonstrating a standard of excellence not seen very often in the world of conformation.

A Show Dogs of the Year Award is most coveted by owners, handlers and breeders. While the awards criteria for the top dog has changed over the years, the intent behind them has not; that is, to recognize the dedication that has made this event possible.

In 1946 the First Ken-L Ration Annual Bench Show was created. The Quaker Oats Company, makers of Ken-L Ration Professional Biskit at that time, created the Show Dogs of the Year Awards in 1954 and always held it in New York City.

When Ken-L Biskit was discontinued, Heinz Specialty Pet Products continued the sponsorship of these important awards in 1995. In 2000, Nature’s Recipe Pet Foods hosted the Show Dogs of the Year Awards and moved to the Southgate Towers & Hotel to be closer to Madison Square Garden where the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is held. Since 2002, the Awards have been hosted by Dogs in Review and presented by Nature’s Recipe.  The Awards are always held on the Saturday before the opening of the dog show, usually the second Saturday in February./p>

Winners in 1954 were divided into four divisions: Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Pacific. In 1958 a new division was added, Owner/Handler. The divisions remained the same until 1966. In 1967 the divisions were changed to reflect the new American Kennel Club group divisions: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy and Non-Sporting, dropping the Owner/Handler division. In 1979 the Obedience Trial Champion Award was created for the dog with the most Obedience Trial Champion Points in sanctioned American Kennel Club shows.

In 1983 another group division was added, the Herding Group, as per the new group divisions issued by the American Kennel Club. In 1986, the Hall of Fame Award was introduced to honor an individual or individuals that have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of the show dog sport.  This esteemed award is presented in recognition of lifetime achievements by dedicated show dog enthusiasts.

The breeder awards were begun in 1997 to acknowledge the importance of these dedicated people who bring champions to the winner’s ring consistently by creating strong, healthy breed lines. Today, at the Purina^® Pro Plan's^® Show Dogs of the Year Awards, presented by Dogs in Review, honors are given to the owners, handlers and breeders of the winners in the seven AKC groups, owner/handler and breeder of the Obedience Trial Champion and an honoree is named for the Hall of Fame.

The history of the winners reads as a “Who’s Who” in show dogs over the decades. The Awards are the most prestigious, coveted awards for owners, handlers and breeders. Below you’ll find lists of our best efforts to capture the top dogs, their owners and handlers of the past 50 years and hopefully it will evoke fond memories for those of you who closely follow this great sport.