The FCI
Understanding how dogs compete & win in the FCI sysyem
By Andrea Paccagnella, Zagreb Dalmatians, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The FCI , Federation Cynologique Internationale
(www.fci.be) is an international federation of canine
clubs that includes the vast majority of the countries in
the World. Its central office is in Belgium. FCI
organizes different kinds of dog shows, The World
Dog show (once a year), the International Dog Shows,
European shows (also once a year), etc.
The Dog Breeds in FCI are distributed in 10 Groups,
in a different way from AKC or the The Kennel Club
(UK).
These are the 10 FCI Groups:
Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs, except Swiss Cattle Dogs
Group 2 Pinschers and Schnauzers – Molossoid Breeds - Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
Group 3 Terriers
Group 4 Dachshunds
Group 5 Spitz and Primitive Types
Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds**
Group 7 Pointing Dogs
Group 8 Retrievers – Flushing Dogs – Water Dogs
Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs
Group 10 Sighthounds

**The Dalmatian is in Group 6, and is part of the “Related Breeds”
Every country / member of FCI has its own independent kennel club, organizes its own domestic championship shows,
and must also organize FCI International shows, at least once a year. Each country has it’s own rules for obtaining
their country Championship titles. All country Championships award CAC (Certificate of Aptitude of Championship)
and each country will determine how many CAC will be needed for a dog to complete their Championship and may
add other requirements. Some countries require a certain amount of CAC to complete their Championship, others
require at least a Best of Breed or BOS win in addition to the CACs, etc.
There is also the Grand Championship. Only Champions can compete for it, and are awarded a certain number of
CGC certificates in order to obtain this title. So any dog must first be a Champion before trying to complete its
Gr. CH. title. As with the CACs, each country has its own rules as to how many CGC are needed to be a GR CH.
The FCI International shows are held in all FCI countries. Each country requests permission to FCI and approval of FCI
accredited judges when they wish to organize an Int show. In order to obtain the International Championship, the dog
must win 4 CACIB.
The CACIB means in French= Certificat d’Aptitude au Championnat International de Beauté,
In English: Certificate of Aptitude towards the International Beauty Championship.
Only the following classes are recognised at CACIB shows sanctioned by the FCI:
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