Level 3Experienced
Who runs dog shows in each European country?
The answer
Each country has its own national kennel club, most of them FCI members. It sets the rules, the titles and the calendar.
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) sets a common framework: breed standards, the ten groups, the CACIB and the main rules for international shows. But in each country, the national kennel club organises and approves shows and awards its own titles.
The main national clubs
| Country | National club |
|---|---|
| France | Société Centrale Canine (SCC) |
| Spain | Real Sociedad Canina de España (RSCE) |
| Italy | Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI) |
| Germany | Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH) |
| Belgium | Société Royale Saint-Hubert (SRSH) |
| Netherlands | Raad van Beheer op Kynologisch Gebied |
| Switzerland | Swiss Kennel Club (SCS / SKG) |
| Portugal | Clube Português de Canicultura (CPC) |
| Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark | SKK, NKK, Suomen Kennelliitto, DKK |
| Poland, Czechia, Hungary | ZKwP, ČMKU, MEOE |
| United Kingdom | The Kennel Club (outside the FCI) |
What it means for you
- Classes, national certificates and title requirements can differ from one country to another.
- The CACIB follows FCI rules in every member country.
- The UK is not an FCI member: its system (Challenge Certificates, Crufts) is different.
In the MyDogShow calendar, every show links to its organiser's official entry page.
Rules change: always check the current conditions on the national kennel club's and the organiser's websites before entering.