The Fédération Cynologique Internationale is the World Canine Organization. The FCI was created in 1911 with the aim to promote and protect cynology and purebred dogs by any means it considers necessary. The founding nations of the FCI are Germany, Austria, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. It includes 84 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI ensures that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognized by all the FCI members. The FCI recognizes 339 breeds, each of them the "property" of a specific country. The "owner" country writes the standard of the breed (description of the ideal type of the breed), in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commission of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The breed standards are updated and translated into French, English, Spanish and German.
Hierarchy of German Versatile Hunting Dog Associations & Breed Clubs
Deutsch Langhaars owned by Deutsch Langhaar-Gruppe Nordamerika members are registered in Germany with the Deutsch Langhaar Verband, tested through the Jagdgebrauchshundverband, and recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. To better understand the relationship between these cooperating clubs and to understand how a DL pup born in America can recognized by the World Canine Organization in Belgium, please see the list below.
Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen "German Kennel Club" (VDH)
Established in 1906, the VDH is the umbrella organization representing more than 168 membership organizations and over 250 dog breeds bred under strict controls. The JGHV is represented as an extraordinary member of the VDH. The DLV is also a member of the VDH.
Jagdgebrauchshundverband "The Gun Dog Association" (JGHV)
JGHV is the umbrella organization in Germany for all of the hunting dog clubs since 1899. The JGHV has 312 member clubs and associations in which about 180,000 hunters are organized. It provides the test regulations, authorizes the judges, and maintains the test records for member breed clubs.
Deutsch Langhaar Verband (DLV)
The DLV is the parent German breed organization dedicated to the development, breeding and continuous improvement of the versatile hunting Deutsch Langhaar. The DLV is a member of both the VDH and the JGHV.
Deutsch Langhaar - Gruppe Nordamerika (DL-GNA)
DL-GNA is the only member group of the DLV in North America. DL-GNA is committed to the integrity of the German system based on performance testing and DLV sponsored breed shows. DL-GNA abides by all DLV rules and regulations regarding the testing and breeding of the Deutsch Langhaar. Gruppe Nordamerika consists of members from both the United States and Canada.
