A SHORT HISTORY ABOUT ENCI...

The National Board of Italian cynophiles (E.N.C.I.) recognised by the State an founded in 1882 has made it possible for our country to reach the peaks of European and world Cynophilia throughout more than one hundred years of activity.
In 1882 some "gentlemen" among whom 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 started and the first subject to be registered in it 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 up-dated the regulations for registration in the "Book" and by 1904 the registered subjects totalled 1.003.
During those years the first canine exhibitions were held in Milan and Turin where about 400 dogs were presented. The Kennel Club also established its official magazine.
The Meeting of May 22^nd 1926 decided to request official recognition as a legal person from Ministry of the Economy. In 1929 the government too started to hold organised Cynophilia in high consideration and allocated a contribution of 5.000 lire. In 1930 all the dog-lovers'associations, whether generic or specialised in the protection of a single breed, which had in the meantime established themselves in this country, obtained recognition as "Collective Members".
Cynophilia grew and in 1939 the legal office was set up in Viale Bianca Maria, 23 in Milan.
In 1940 it also obtained recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture. After the war, the first regulations regarding zootechnic shows and aptitude tests were approved.
In the meantime the registration in the Breed Book reached a total of 8.636 and in 1950 the great international sporting event for English pointers was established. The results of the first census-taking of dogs in Italy, done in 13 regions, confirmed the large number of animals of this species present, 1.063.267 subjects.
In those years Cynophilia and cynotechnics on a technical and scientific role. University courses on Cynolgy were organised at universities and still today those same tests are used for reference.
In 1960 there were 43 zootechnic expositions an 66 working tests and the number of registrations in the Breed Book reached 14.803.
In 1970 the federate nations in the International Cynology Federation, which has its legal office in Belgium, in the General Meeting in Budapest established that the genealogical certificates issued by the various nations should bear a common mark. Today there are 70 federate nations in the FCI (international Cynology Federation).
There are approximately 160.000 registrations in the National Breed Books, more than 2.000 zootechnic shows of which 1.200 are working tests and 400 approximately exposition with the yearly participation of over 100.000 dogs. There are 2.000 dog breeders that belong to ENCI and approximately 100.000 aggregate members.
There are over 100 ENCI delegations spread over the entire national territory. The Cynophile Groups and Breed Associations also collaborate actively with the promotion and development of organised cynophilia locally and by sector.
ENCI publishes a monthly periodical called "I Nostri Cani" (Which means Our Dogs - Transiator's note) with a circulation of 100.000 copies that it sends to all its associates.
In the past few years this Board has promoted initiatives, both practical and formative in the area of zootechnics by organising cynotechnic courses, seminars, and conventions aimed at studying techincal-scientific matters and participation successfully in shows and working tests in Europe and around the world, thereby acquiring prestige and highlighting the high level of achievement obtained by the products of Italian breeding.
Selection continues with the creation of "cynophile areas" in various parts of the country for the training of dogs used in hunting sports training centres (there are numerous ones throughout the country) of work dogs and police dogs. Scientific selection of the natural aptitudes of herding dogs, indispensable helpers in the work of sheep and goat herdsmen is now becoming more widespread; the selection of dogs for recreational sports, which require agility; the improvement of dogs with aptitudes for rescuing from water and land; and, last but not least, the more common use of helping dogs for the disabled and to collaborate with the police force for drug detection and maintaining public order.
A center for the conservation of germplasm to improve subjects and for artificial insemination is now in realisation.
ENCI is particularly interested in paying attention to the promotion the Italian breeds. There are 14 autochthonous breeds of ancient origin, each charming and interesting for its typical morphology and for its natural aptitude and temper.
Their selection and improvement are very significative in the technical activity of ENCI that wich to improve knowledge about them and their diffusion both in Italy and abroad.