So, what is FCI? If you have a purebred dog, you may hear many times the mysterious three letters FCI. In this short writing I try to introduce one of the most important organizations of the canine world.
 

FCI is the French abbreviation of Fédération Cynologique Internationale. FCI can be translated into English as The World Canine Organisation. And thus FCI is an international federation of kennel clubs that is based in Belgium, Europe.
 

Kennel club is an organization dealing with breeding, showning and promotion of more than one breed of dog. These clubs gained popularity first in the 19th century in Europe and North America and they focused on the principles of eugenics. The main tasks of kennel clubs include recording pedigrees, maintaining breed standards, specifying the rules of breed shows and trials, accreditation of judges, recording of adult purebred dogs and litters of puppies that were born to purebred parents.
 

The federation was established in 1911 by five founding countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, France and Netherlands. During the bloody World War I (1914-1918) the Federation could not work and it was re-created in 1921.