The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin [1] took place this month in Orlando, FL, and more than 5,000 dogs descended upon the Central Florida city to compete for the ultimate title of best in show. In covering dog shows [2] I've above all learned one thing: they're all pretty much the same. In each show, hundreds of perfect dogs are judged on their conformation, or how well they represent the breed to carry on the bloodline. A winner is selected from each of the breeds to then move onto the group judging. This is often the part seen on TV. Judges pick a winner from each group and then those winners compete for best in show. Here's one thing people maybe don't realize: the dogs aren't necessarily being judged against each other. They're all being judged against the breed. So while a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever both compete in the Sporting group, the judge is comparing each breed against what is considered conformation for that specific breed. The same process goes for best in show.

But what you see on TV when you tune in (Jan. 23 on Hallmark for the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin [3]) isn't the whole story. It's condensed and edited, and while still enjoyable, it's just not everything. I, however, have gotten to see everything, and while the magic of television makes it go faster, it's nothing compared to getting up close and personal with these pups on show days. Keep reading to see a few behind-the-scenes tidbits of this weekend's show, and tune in to watch the telecast on Jan. 23. Or, if you're OK with spoilers, you can find out all the winners here [4].

You can actually meet the dogs

At benched shows, spectators can walk through the area where the dogs are kept and see them up close. At the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, it's set up slightly differently. While you can't get to the dogs who are competing, there is a Meet the Breeds area where you can learn more about each breed competing and even pet some of them.

You can buy everything your dog-loving heart desires

Dog shows not only bring out all the dogs and their people, but also vendors selling everything dog-related you can imagine. You can also buy anything for your dog. It's amazing how many options there are.

The dogs behave so well

These dogs pretty much love to be around people. They're so well-trained for shows that they appear completely aloof around everyone. They perform outside the ring just as well as they do inside.

All the dogs are perfect

You will never see more aesthetically pleasing dogs than you see at a dog show. Each and every dog is groomed to perfection and is the physical representation of perfection for the breed. It's crazy to see a row of nearly identical Golden Retrievers and think that someone will have to be chosen as a winner. Seriously, they're all perfect and I want to give them all ribbons . . . and snuggles.

There's camaraderie among the competition

Yes, everyone goes to a dog show to win, so the competitive edge is there, however, these dog owners, handlers, and breeders bond over their love of the breed. They may go head to head in breed judging, but when it comes to group judging and beyond, those devoted to their breed are happy to cheer a fellow on.

Everyone there knows how to pronounce Xoloitzcuintli

Look, not every dog can have an easy name like Golden Retriever or Pomeranian. There are breeds like the Coton de Tulear, the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, and the most difficult to pronounce, the Xoloitzcuintli. After having a pro say the breed name very slowly for me over and over, I think I've figured out the exact pronunciation. I also learned that it's completely acceptable to call the dog a Xolo (Sholo) for short.

Some people live and breathe their breeds

While walking through the Meet the Breeds area, I noticed so many booths that were decorated to the nines to show the history of the breed. The Pekingese booth was all done up in traditional Chinese decor. The Scottish Wolf Hound booth's people were dressed in traditional Scottish clothing. It was pure dedication.

They're still dogs

At the end of the day, no matter how practically perfect they are, they are still dogs. They still play with other dogs and with people, and they still have accidents here in there. (Pooping in the ring is not uncommon and totally OK.)

It's basically nirvana

There are over 5,000 dogs in one place. Five thousand perfectly amazing dogs — what more could you possibly ask for?