Fédération cynologique internationale
AbbreviationFCI
Formation22 May 1911
TypeFederation of kennel clubs
Legal statusActive
Location
Region served
International
Official language
French, English, German, Spanish
President
Tamas Jakkel
Main organ
FCI General Committee
Websitewww.fci.be

The Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI; English: International Canine Federation) is the largest[1] international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries. The FCI is based in Thuin, Belgium and has 98 members and contract partners (one from each country).

History

The FCI was founded in 1911 under the auspices of the kennel clubs of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Its objective was to bring global uniformity to the breeding, exhibiting and judging of pure-bred dogs.[2][3][4] It was disbanded in World War I and recreated in 1921 by Belgium and France.[5] Since its foundation the FCI's membership has grown to include kennel clubs from the majority of countries worldwide, with members in Europe as well as Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania.[3]

Function

The purpose of the FCI is to make sure that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognised by all the FCI member countries. In contrast to national kennel clubs, the FCI is not a registry and does not issue pedigrees to individual dogs, with the issue of pedigrees and record keeping of breeders and breeder addresses the responsibility of the national canine organisations recognised by the FCI.[6]

At present the FCI recognises 356 breeds, with each breed being considered as the 'property' of a specific country, usually based upon the country where the breed has first originated. These breed 'owner' countries write the breed standard of the specific breed, with the breed standard being a detailed description of the ideal type of the breed, in partnership with and under the oversight of the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI. The FCI is responsible for publication and maintenance of these breed standards,[7] along with the translation of breed standard into the four working languages of the FCI (English, French, German and Spanish).[6] The FCI breed standards act as the reference for the judges at shows held in the FCI member countries, as well as maintaining the qualification and license of judges in dog shows in FCI member countries.[6] For breeders, the FCI breed standards are used as the reference in their attempt to produce top-quality dogs according to the ideal type as set out by the FCI.[7]

The FCI is considered to the largest kennel club in the world with only Africa and the Middle East poorly represented, partly through the absence of national kennel clubs or purebred registries in countries of these regions. In Europe, only the United Kingdom, Kosovo and Bulgaria are not represented by the FCI. Likewise, in the Americas only the USA and Canada are not members.[8]

The official purebred registries in North America that are not members or contract partners of FCI include the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC), and in Europe, The Kennel Club (TKC) of the United Kingdom.[9] Despite not being members or associates, the FCI has a long standing agreement (or 'Letter of Agreement') for mutual recognition of pedigrees under outlined circumstances, and cooperation between the FCI and the AKC, TKC and the CKC of the USA, United Kingdom and Canada respectively. In addition, the TKC and the FCI have agreements regarding the mutual recognition of judges. In contrast, the FCI does not recognise the UKC and no agreement is in place.[10]

According to AKC's Denise Flaim, crafting a workable standard is a challenge, and the "FCI standards typically have a greater number of disqualifications, which are sometimes subjective, and their impact on a dog's career is not as dire."[11] In contrast, the FCI takes a stronger line on certain issues compared with some non-member national kennel clubs, particularly the AKC and UKC, regarding general animal health and welfare. Unlike the AKC and UKC, the FCI has moved towards banning the practices of ear cropping and tail docking in breed standards, as well as forbidding the entry of dogs with cropped ears and dock tails from being shown in dogs shows in FCI member countries.[12][13] In addition, the FCI takes a stronger stance on improving the health of dogs as opposed to the appearance of dogs in situations where a breed's health is impacted due to severely restricted gene pools, or concerning brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.

Breeds

The FCI automatically recognises all registered breeds recognised by any of its member kennel clubs, therefore its list of recognised dog breeds includes breeds not known outside of their country of origin.[3] The FCI divides the breeds it recognises into ten groups based on various discriminators such as appearance or role:[14]

  1. Sheepdogs and cattle dogs (except Swiss cattle dogs)
  2. Pinschers and schnauzers - molossoid breeds - Swiss mountain and cattle dogs and other breeds
  3. Terriers
  4. Dachshunds
  5. Spitz and primitive types
  6. Scenthounds and related breeds
  7. Pointers and setters
  8. Retrievers - flushing dogs - water dogs
  9. Companion and toy dogs
  10. Sighthounds

FCI members

FCI member states

The FCI has members, associates and partners in 98 countries.[15]

Country Member club's name
Argentina Federación Cinológica Argentina[16]
Armenia Armenian Dog-Lovers' Association[17]
Australia Australian National Kennel Council[18]
Austria Österreichische Kynologenverband[17]
Azerbaijan Kennel Union of the Republic of Azerbaijan[17]
Bahrain Bahrain Kennel Club[18]
Belarus Belarusian Cynological Union[17]
Belgium Union Royale Cynologique Saint Hubert[17]
Bolivia Kennel Club Boliviano[16]
Bosnia and Herzegovina Kinološki Savez u Bosni i Hercegovini[17]
Brazil Confederação Brasileira de Cinofilia[16]
Bulgaria Bulgarian Republican Federation of Cynology[17]
Chile Kennel Club de Chile[16]
China China Kennel Union[18]
Colombia Asociación Club Canino Colombiano[16]
Costa Rica Asociación Canófila Costarricense[16]
Croatia Hrvatski Kinoloski Savez[17]
Cuba Federación Cinólogica de Cuba[16]
Cyprus Cyprus Kennel Club[17]
Czech Republic Českomoravská Kynologická Unie[17]
Denmark Dansk Kennel Club[17]
Dominican Republic Federación Canina Dominicana[16]
Ecuador Asociación Ecuatoriana de Registros Caninos[16]
Egypt Egyptian Kennel Federation[18]
El Salvador Asociación Canófila Salvadoreña[16]
Estonia Eesti Kennelliit[17]
Finland Suomen Kennelliitto[17]
France Société Centrale Canine[17]
Georgia Fédération Cynologique de Géorgie[17]
Germany Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen[17]
Gibraltar Gibraltar Kennel Club[17]
Greece Kennel Club of Greece[17]
Guatemala Asociación Canófila Guatemalteca[16]
Honduras Asociación Canófila de Honduras[16]
Hungary Magyar Ebtenyésztők Országos Egyesülete[17]
Iceland Hundaræktarfélags Íslands[17]
India Kennel Club of India[18]
Indonesia PERKIN Perkumpulan Kinologi Indonesia[18]
Ireland Irish Kennel Club[17]
Israel Israel Kennel Club[17]
Italy Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana[17]
Japan Japan Kennel Club[18]
Kazakhstan Union of Cynologists of Kazakhstan[17]
Kyrgyzstan Union of Cynologists of Kyrgyz Republic[17]
Latvia Latvijas Kinologiska Federacija[17]
Lithuania Lietuvos kinologų draugija[17]
Luxembourg Fédération Cynologique Luxembourgeoise[17]
Macedonia Kennel Association of Republic of Macedonia[17]
Malaysia Malaysian Kennel Association[18]
Malta Malta Kennel Club[17]
Mexico Federación Canófila Mexicana[16]
Moldova Uniunea Chinologică din Moldova[17]
Monaco Société Canine de Monaco[17]
Montenegro Kinološki savez Crne Gore[17]
Morocco Société Centrale Canine Marocaine[17]
Netherlands Raad van Beheer op Kynologisch Gebied in Nederland[17]
New Zealand New Zealand Kennel Club[18]
Nicaragua Asociación Canina Nicaragüense[16]
Norway Norsk Kennel Klub[17]
Pakistan Kennel Club of Pakistan[18]
Panama Club Canino de Panama[16]
Paraguay Paraguay Kennel Club[16]
Peru Kennel Club Peruano[16]
Philippines Philippine Canine Club[18]
Poland Związek Kynologiczny w Polsce[17]
Portugal Clube Português de Canicultura[17]
Puerto Rico Federación Canófila de Puerto Rico[16]
Romania Asociația Chinologică Română[17]
Russia Russian Kynological Federation[17]
San Marino Kennel Club San Marino[17]
Serbia Kinološki savez Srbije[17]
Singapore Singapore Kennel Club[18]
Slovakia Slovenská Kynologická Jednota[17]
Slovenia Kinološka Zveza Slovenije[17]
South Africa Kennel Union of Southern Africa[18]
South Korea Korea Kennel Federation[18]
Spain Real Sociedad Canina en España[17]
Sri Lanka Kennel Association of Sri Lanka[18]
Sudan Sudanese Kennel Club Association[18]
Sweden Svenska Kennelklubben[17]
Switzerland Société Cynologique Suisse[17]
Taiwan Kennel Club of Taiwan[18]
Thailand The Kennel Association of Thailand[18]
Turkey Köpek Irklari ve Kinoloji Federasyonu[17]
Ukraine Ukrainian Kennel Union[17]
Uruguay Kennel Club Uruguayo[16]
Uzbekistan Kynological Federation of Uzbekistan[17]
Venezuela Federación Canina de Venezuela[16]
Vietnam Vietnam Kennel Association[18]

FCI partners

Country FCI partner agreement
Canada Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) 1 April 2009[19]
United Kingdom The Kennel Club (KC) 1 May 2017[19]
United States American Kennel Club (AKC) 5 November 2005[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ FCI: the largest canine organisation of the world, FCI.be
  2. ↑ Fogle, Bruce (2009). The encyclopedia of the dog. New York: DK Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.
  3. 1 2 3 The Reader's Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs. Montreal: The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) Ltd. 1982. p. 369. ISBN 0-88850-129-3.
  4. ↑ Indrebø, Astrid (Autumn 2013). "The role of the FCI, national kennel clubs and breeders regarding the functional health of pedigree dogs" (PDF). EJCAP. Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations. 23 (3): 4–11. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "History of the FCI". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "Main activities of the FCI Secretariat". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  7. 1 2 "Presentation of our organisation". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  8. ↑ "FCI members and contract partners". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  9. ↑ "Statistics: FCI members, partners & sections". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  10. ↑ "Members & Partners". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  11. ↑ Flaim, Denise (2022-01-05). "How Does a Dog Breed Become AKC-Recognized?". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  12. ↑ "CROPPED/DOCKED DOGS OF BREEDS CUSTOMARILY CROPPED/DOCKED". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  13. ↑ "CROPPED/DOCKED DOGS OF BREEDS CUSTOMARILY CROPPED/DOCKED: REMINDER". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  14. ↑ "FCI breeds nomenclature". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "FCI members and contract partners". www.fci.be.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Fédération Cynologique Internationale, "FCI members and contract partners, The Americas & Caribbean", www.fci.be, retrieved 24 December 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Fédération Cynologique Internationale, "FCI members and contract partners, Europe", www.fci.be, retrieved 24 December 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Fédération Cynologique Internationale, "FCI members and contract partners, Asia, Africa & Oceania", www.fci.be, retrieved 24 December 2018.
  19. 1 2 3 "Members & Partners". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
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