History
Europe’s first national kennel clubs were organized in France, Germany and Belgium. By 1890 minor differences in terminology and regulations created major obstacles for the international purebred community. The need for an international unifying organization became obvious.
FCI’s beginnings trace back to the Societe de Saint-Hubert, founded to hold a dog show commemorating Belgium’s fiftieth year of independence in 1880. On May 22nd, 1911 this became the Fédération Cynologique Internationale through the combined effort of five nations:
Germany
Austria
Belgium
France
Netherlands
This incarnation lasted until World War I and was relaunched by France’s Société Centrale Canine de France and Belgium’s Société Royale Saint-Hubert in 1921.
FCI Today
Today, FCI maintains records for 339 breeds in 84 member countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North and South America.
Its functions include
• maintaining a calendar of international dog shows
• translating and updating international show regulations
• registering and protecting kennel names
• recording show results and confirming international titles for conformation, obedience, agility and working trials
FCI’s infrastructure balances cooperation with autonomy
• Each country is represented by a delegate in FCI’s General Assembly to make decisions and formulate international policy
• Each country maintains control over its native breeds from the recognition process to writing and revising standards. FCI’s Standards Commission issues official translations in French, English, Spanish and German ensuring standards are accessible to judges in all FCI countries.
• Each country is responsible for maintaining a national registry and issuing pedigrees. FCI ensures that reciprocal registration policies exist among all member registries.
• Each country trains and approves its own judges. FCI maintains a database of internationally licensed judges able to officiate at shows in FCI countries.
• Each country conducts shows and working trials where national and international certificates are awarded.
For more information visit http://www.fci.be