~ The Italian Kennel Club ~

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A Brief History of ENCI
The National Board of Italian Cynophiles (ENCI) was recognised by the State and founded in 1882, making it possible for our country to be at the forefront of European and world Cynophilia for more than a century.

In 1882, some gentlemen, among whom was the Count Carlo Borromeo, Prince Emilio Belgioioso d'Este, Ferdinando Delor, Carlo Biffi and Luigi Radice, decided to found a "Society" to improve dog breeds in Italy. Thus, the Italian Kennel Club was constituted, with 31 members.

The Book of Origins was established, and the first subject to be registered was an Italian bloodhound by the name of Falco, born in 1875.

In 1897, the Meeting of the Members ratified the memorandum of association and updated the regulations for registration in the "Book". By 1904, the Book included a total of 1,003 registered subjects.

During those years, the first canine exhibitions were held in Milan and Turin, where approximately 400 dogs were presented. The Kennel Club also established its official magazine.

At the Meeting of May 22, 1926, it was decided to request official recognition as a legal entity from the Ministry of the Economy. In 1940, ENCI obtained recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture. After the war, the first regulations regarding zootechnic shows and aptitude tests were approved.

Nowadays there are around 200,000 registrations in the National Herd Books, over 2,000 zootechnical events, around 1,200 working trials and over 400 shows with the annual participation of over 100,000 dogs. ENCI's breeder members are almost 2,000 and its aggregate members are around 70,000. The over 100 ENCI delegations widely cover the entire national territory. The dog groups and breed associations actively collaborate in the promotion and development of organized dog breeding both locally and sectorally.

In recent years, the organization has successfully carried out both the practical zootechnical and the educational direction with the organization of dog breeding courses, seminars, conferences oriented towards the study of technical-scientific problems, also successfully participating in exhibitions and European and global work trials, gaining prestige and highlighting the high level achieved by Italian breeding products.

The selective activity continues with the creation of "dog zones" in various parts of the country for the training and training of dogs used in hunting sports, training centers (numerous throughout the country) for utility dogs and for the Civil Protection. The scientific selection of the natural aptitudes of herd dogs, indispensable auxiliaries in the work of sheep and goat breeders, is now taking shape; the selection of dogs for recreational-sporting uses such as agility; the improvement of dogs with aptitude for rescue and rescue both on land and in water; the expansion of the use of auxiliary dogs for disabled people and collaboration with the police forces for the selection of anti-drug and auxiliary dogs for public order.

ENCI pays particular attention to the enhancement and promotion of Italian breeds. These are 16 native breeds of ancient origin, each fascinating and particularly interesting both for their typical morphology and for their natural aptitudes and temperament. The selection and their improvement take on a prominent character in the technical activity of the organization which wants to promote their knowledge and diffusion both in Italy and abroad.

https://www.enci.it/