In the next AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, to be held January 15-16 in Tampa, Florida, television viewers will be allowed to choose the winning dogs, in seven categories, in a special competition.

The special competition, known as the The Iams Viewers Choice Award encourages the television audience of the championship invitation to log on at http://www.animalplanet.com during judging and pick their favorite breed among the seven AKC Groups -- Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding.

Each group winner will receive a $2,000 donation earmarked for their Parent Club -- the AKC member club which acts as the breed's governing body. Then, during the
Best in Show competition on Sunday, January 16, viewers will choose from among
the seven group winners (as selected by the show's judges) to choose the "Iams
Viewers Choice Best in Show." This "lucky dog" will have $10,000 donated to
its Parent Club in his/her name.

Online voting results will be announced live after each Group during both nights of the simulcast, and the recipient of the Iams Viewers Choice Best in Show will be announced after the actual Best in Show competition, just before the end of the simulcast. Throughout the show, viewers will be encouraged to vote via voice-over prompts and on-screen graphics.

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