Newsletter May 2, 2016

FCI Worlwide (1922-2011)
by Y. De Clercq, FCI Executive Director, 1998-...
Part 3/7

1932, Firenze, very first international cynological congress

1932, Firenze, the Duke of Aoste at the FCI General Assembly

1932, the very first international cynological congress is conducted in Firenze (Italy) and organised by the ENCI (Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana)

The FCI then includes twelve members (seven federated and 5 associated). On the occasion of the General Assembly, held in Firenze too, the Baron Houtart expresses his warm thanks to the Union Cynologique Saint-Hubert (Belgium) for the "administrative services of the UCSH on the shoulders of which lies all the weight of our Federation".

The number of CACIB shows this year reaches 19 (with a total of 672 CACIB awarded) and 21 titles of CIB are confirmed by the FCI. Parallel to this, 26 CACIT trials are organised and 3 titles of CIT are processed. At the end of the session and for the first time, a Swiss is elected President: Mr Scheitlin. On the occasion of the subsequent Assembly in Zürich, it is resolved that from January 1^st, 1934, a dog has to be 15 (vs 18 in earlier times) months to be entered in the open class.

Under HH Princess of Monaco, the FCI members meet in 1934 in Monaco, for their annual General Assembly and for the second cynological congress.

1934, the participants in the Congress, Monaco

1934, judging at the dog show in Monaco

1934, a view of the dog show, Monaco

1935, cover of the proceedings of the Cynological Congress, Francfort

On this occasion, Denmark becomes a federated member of the FCI. Germany, Czechoslovakia, Brazil and Romania get the status of associated members. The number of shows keeps increasing and a new title is created, which still exists today although not often awarded: the cumulative title of “working and beauty champion”.

In the General Assembly's minutes, one can find indication of the fees for the CACIB shows: 100 Belgas (12.5 €) for shows allotted “by right” to a member or 60 Belgas (7.5 €) for those allotted by “delegation”. The right to award the CACIT at a trial amounts to 20 Belgas (2.5 €). As one can see, at that time, the fee charged for shows does not yet apply to every dog appearing in the catalogue; that decision will indeed be made later.

On 20^th February 1935, a cooperation convention is signed by the FCI and the Kennel Club (England). Not less than 31 CACIB shows and 50 CACIT events have been organised in 1934. The figures keep increasing. The 3^rd International Cynological Congress takes place in Francfort.

1935, the participants in the FCI General Assembly, Francfort

At the General Assembly, the Baron Houtart informs that he's resigning. He is replaced by Mr Du Pré who will act as Secretary General until 1936. The General Assembly elects the Count of Moltke as President and the next Assembly is celebrated in Copenhagen where Yugoslavia becomes a federated member. At that period, the FCI has 14 federated and 7 associated members.

FCI Headquarters, 1936

From 1937 until 1939, the Count t’Serclaes de Sommersom will be the FCI Secretary General. In this period, Latvia and Lithuania will get the status of associated member and a proposal to have the German language recognised as an official FCI language is turned down. French remains the only language used in the FCI. A fourth cynological congress takes place in Paris in 1937 in the frame of the “Exposition Universelle”.

FCI Headquarters, 1948

A last General Assembly will be held in 1939 in Stockholm; then the FCI activities logically decrease without however, and surprisingly, being totally interrupted. No General Assembly is held during the war period.

1939, invitation to the FCI General Assembly, Stockholm

The world cynological authorities and leaders have to wait until 1947 to meet again, in Brussels. That year, it is pointed out that during the year 1946 and until the Assembly takes place, an amazing - considering the overall context - number of 31 CACIB shows and 39 CACIT trials took place, showing how passionate dog lovers remained despite the tragic years that they experienced. This clearly shows that cynological activities never totally ended as explained earlier. France has organised 6 shows for a total of 4,479 dogs, followed by Italy, 5 shows, and the Netherlands with 4 shows. The FCI Office also got on the same train as they managed to confirm 11 titles of CIB and the UCRSH informs that not less than 1,858 kennel names were registered.

The year 1949 has a very particular meaning and flavour for the 22 members of the FCI attending the General Assembly as they gathered in Paris under Mr Guilbert as President and were greeted by the President of the French Republic, Mr Vincent Auriol, at the Elysée.

1949, programme of the FCI General Assembly in Paris

At the 1950 Assembly held in Amsterdam, the members decide that a fee of 1 BEF (0.025 €) will be charged per dog appearing in the catalogue! That resolution still applies today and remains the major source of revenues of the FCI.

At that period, the texts also refer to a fee due to the FCI per dog registered in the stud-books. A total of 38 CACIB shows are reported to have been organised, while 30 titles of CIB and 1 CIT have been confirmed. Another major decision is made: a dog having a pedigree with 3 generations registered with FCI recognised stud-books is considered to be pure-bred. In addition, the FCI can only confirm the CACIB’s awarded to dogs whose genealogy is confirmed to be complete by the canine organisation where they are registered. As one can see, the principles applied nowadays are strongly rooted in history.

1950 General Assembly, Amsterdam, FCI Board. From left to right: J. Rothea (FR), Baron Houtart (BE, Secretary General), Dr W. Hirschfeld (NL, President), Dr Solaro (IT)

1950 General Assembly, Amsterdam, a view of the participants

1951, FCI General Assembly, Rome, a view of the participants

Mr Ch. Gendebien (BE), FCI Secretary General (1951-1969)

The following year sees a very unfortunate event: the death of Baron Houtart. He is substituted by Mr Charles Gendebien. In Rome, on the occasion of the 1951 General Assembly chaired by Mr Solaro, it is indicated that Germany is now represented by a new member, the VDH, Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen.

The year 1953 is very important for two good reasons: German becomes an official FCI language and the FCI Offices are moved from the house of the then Secretary General to Avenue Leopold II, 6530 Thuin (Belgium), a city where the headquarters are still located today. From that year and for some more, a “Bulletin de la FCI” will be published.

1953, FCI Bulletin

The first FCI headquarters in Thuin

A view of the City of Thuin

1954 is important as it means the creation of the concept of « Reserve CACIB” awarded in case the winning dog is too young or not pure-bred.

Dortmund and the VDH, in 1956, are the host of the FCI World Cynological Congress in conjunction with a big dog show surprisingly called “world dog show”.

1956, FCI World Cynological Congress, Dortmund

1956, FCI “World Dog Show”, judges list