Time really flies! At the twilight of 2016 we can definitely say that this year was challenging but gratifying. To run a global federation like the Fédération Cynologique Internationale is not an easy task. Cultural, political and vision differences bring conflicts that must be promptly resolved, taking into consideration how the results will affect the cynological community. Thanks to a great team work and efforts we managed to solve the issues we were faced with during this past year.

After months of speculations regarding the ability of the RKF to organise the World Dog Show 2016, the most important dog show in the World was a world-class event with marvelous dogs, incredible hospitality and excellent press. On the other hand we were sad to hear that Ecuador resigned from the organisation of the FCI General Assembly and the World Dog Show 2017. Making history, the VDH, in an unprecedented situation, took a step forward to organise both events in Leipzig, Germany, next November. We are grateful and proud that the VDH took this huge responsibility.

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Rafael de Santiago
FCI President
FCI Standards Commission - Activity report

Members of the FCI Standards Commission during first part of the period were:

Renée Sporre-Willes, President Sweden
Hans Wiblishauser Germany
Dr José Luis Payró Mexico
Jorge Nallem Uruguay
Claude Guintard France

The Commission welcomed the new members voted on at the General Assembly in Milan 2015:

  • Mr Rui Oliveira from Portugal
  • Mr Petru Muntean from Romania
  • Mr Ferdinando Asnaghi from Italy

We said good bye to Mrs Renée Sporre-Willes who had decided not to present for re-election at the General Assembly and to Mr José Luis Payró who was voted as President of the Americas and the Caribbean Section of the FCI.
Both of them had been in our Commission for many years, so we will miss them very much, as well as their experience and cooperation.

At the renewed FCI offices in Thuin we held our first meeting on November 5th, 2015, with the new members and I was elected as new President of the Commission, which is a big honour and responsibility; I hope to carry on the excellent job that Renée has done as President and will try to use everything I learned from her - and from Prof. Triquet before - and with the cooperation of my friends on the commission will try to do my best.

The Former FCI Standards Commission members at their meeting in Dortmund on February 12th, 2015. From left to right: Mr Claude Guintard (France), Mr Jorge Nallem (Uruguay), Mrs Renée Sporre-Willes (Sweden), Mr Hans Wiblishauser (Germany) and Dr José Luis Payró (Mexico)

The FCI Standards Commission’s main work to revise and adapt new and existing standards is constant. The focus on dog health continues to cause countries to review the text in standards extra carefully, to avoid wordings that may result in interpretations that can lead to exaggerations that might cause health risks in the dogs.

The Commission amends or thoroughly revises standards continuously and the co-operation with the member-countries is usually efficient. Still, the procedure has to go through several steps before a standard can be published, and rightly so as these documents are the backbone in the work of the FCI and its member countries.

Viewing of the text in standards from a health and welfare perspective is intensified. This is not always to the liking of the countries of origin, but in the interest of keeping the breeds for the future, we all have to realise that exaggerations in type as well as character issues in guard dogs might not only jeopardise the health of the dogs, it may also increase the risk to have breeds banned by law.

The model standard
It is the Standards Commission’s wish that the model standard will be regarded with the seriousness it is intended. It is updated to be a guide and advice to any amendments or revisions made to standards, regardless whether it concerns breeds that are fully or provisionally recognised.

The 2015 Commission meeting took place in Dortmund, February 12th, 2015
The meeting took place at the Mercure Hotel, Messe & Kongress Dortmund, where the Dortmund Dogs Welfare Workshop also took place.

Amended revised standards

  • Bergamasco Shepherd 194
  • Bolognese 196
  • Italian Pointing Dog 202
  • Italian Corso Dog 343
  • Cirneco dell’Etna 199
  • Italian Greyhound 200
  • Romagna Water Dog 298
  • Maltese 65
  • Maremma and the Abruzzes Sheepdog 201
  • Neapolitan Mastiff 197
  • Italian Rough-Haired Segugio 198
  • Italian Short-Haired Segugio 337
  • Spinone 165
  • Italian Volpino 195

Modified Standards

  • Dobermann 143
  • Taiwan Dog 348: modified to be presented on the General Assembly 2015 in Milan.

Via email, the members of the commissions brought some small changes on GB breeds only to adapt them.
An investigation by Dr Claude Guintard about different points of view on missing PM1 and M3 was presented.

Meeting at FCI office in Thuin, November 5th, 2015
This is an extraordinary meeting that was organised to elect the new president of the FCI Standards and Scientific Commissions. We took this opportunity to deal with some standards pending since last meeting.
The new members elected in Milan and mentioned above participated in the meeting.
The last edition of the Model Standard, with information on guidelines and advices, was presented.

New breeds

  • Chodsky pes (Bohemian Shepherd Dog)
  • Pazsky Krysarik (Prague Ratter)
  • Lancashire Heeler, assessment report
  • Lancashire Heeler Standard

Re-worded Standards

  • Drentsche Partridge Dog 224

Re-worded Standards to be accepted by GC

  • Bergamasco Shepherd 194
  • Bolognese 196
  • Italian Pointing Dog 202
  • Italian Corso Dog 343
  • Italian Greyhound 200
  • Romagna Water Dog 298
  • Maltese 65
  • Maremma and the Abruzzes Sheepdog 201
  • Neapoletan Mastiff 197
  • Italian Rough-Haired Segugio 198
  • Italian Short-Haired Segugio 337
  • Spinone 165
  • Italian Volpino 195

Amendments to standards

  • St. Bernard 61
  • Gordon Setter 6
  • Norwegian Hound 203
  • Japanese Terrier 259
  • Japanese Chin 206
  • Bichon Frise 215
  • Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier 302
  • Irish Red and White Setter 330
  • Irish Red Setter 120
  • Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 40
  • Irish Terrier 139
  • Irish Water Spaniel 124
  • Irish Wolfhound 160
  • Kerry Blue Terrier 3

Election of New President
My colleagues elected me as new President of the FCI Standards Commission.

I would like to thank my colleagues for their trust and also want to thank the Scientific Commission, as well as the staff at the FCI General Secretariat in Thuin, for the excellent collaboration, as well as the General Committee for their support.

Jorge Nallem
President of the FCI Standards Commission