What is FCI?
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (or International Canine Federation) is the official and international federation that brings together all the breeders' associations of dog breeds in 88 countries.
To date, the FCI recognizes 342 different breeds, each classified based on pre-established physical characteristics and indicated as belonging to a specific country of origin.
Knowing which countries are part of the FCI is important to verify if the animal in question meets the requirements for the assignment of a pedigree.
What are the types of dogs classified?
The general classification divides breeds into different types, namely:
Group 1: Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer types, Molossoid, Swiss Mountain, and Cattle Dogs
Group 3: Terriers
Group 4: Dachshunds
Group 5: Spitz and Primitive Types
Group 6: Scent hounds and related breeds
Group 7: Pointing Dogs
Group 8: Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, and Water Dogs
Group 9: Companion and Toy Dogs
Group 10: Sighthounds
Which countries are part of the FCI?
Every country of origin has been a member of the FCI, and every individual belonging to a recognized breed must have the same physical attributes, regardless of the place of birth.
To simplify, a Bolognese purchased in Germany will refer to the standards set as an Italian breed, even if it has a German passport.
The countries that are part of the FCI are as follows:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Philippines, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Japan, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Yugoslavia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Moldova, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Principality of Monaco, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, Hungary, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, Hungary, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela.
What is the role of the FCI?
The standards of every breed recognized in Europe are set by the FCI, and the federation provides official and always up-to-date documents in English, Spanish, German, and French.
To verify if the physical characteristics of the dog correspond to those set by the Federation, you can find here the official form of each classified canine breed. While if you want information in Italian, you can refer to the website of ENCI.
Dogs with physical characteristics not corresponding to what is indicated in the form might not be purebred, or be crosses of dogs of the same breed but of different size, or have physical defects or pathologies related to growth.
Obviously, for the private individual, the fact that their pet does not meet certain standards is completely irrelevant, but it becomes important for breeders and their clients.
And obviously, if you decide to buy a puppy paying a certain price, it will be important to ensure that the breeder has crossed animals with the right characteristics.
Therefore, be wary of those who sell you toy dogs, as the only recognized toy dog is the poodle, or those who offer a black Maltese or a teacup Maltese, since they do not exist.
There is also no such thing as a Korean Maltese or an American Maltese, unless it means that the dog has been imported from Korea or the United States.
What are the most important canine federations in the world?
In addition to the FCI, the major canine federations are:
American Kennel Club (AKC), United States
Canadian Kennel Club, Canada
And if you want to know more...
Still not clear about which dog is ideal for you? Find all the information you need to make the best choice on canipiccoli.co.uk