Dear readers,
2011 has just come to an end; it’s now time for statistics and assessments of all
kinds. Allow me to dwell upon the special attention the FCI pays to its national
canine organisations as well as to breeders, exhibitors and other sports competition
enthusiasts (hunting, utility, Sighthounds races, etc.).
Needless to say these figures show that the cynological world remains intensely
active within the FCI member countries despite the tough and sullen times our economic
and social spheres are having these days.
First cheering result: in 2011, the number of CACIB shows has reached as much as
870, compared to 821 two years ago.
Just as I was drafting this editorial, the total amount of dogs that took part in
these events attained 794,817; as a matter of course, this is not a final figure,
given that the results of the shows have not all been received or dealt with yet.
To date, the dogs that got the CACIB amount to 88,651. Besides, the FCI Office has
confirmed 7,431 CIB (Champion International de Beauté - International Champion of
Beauty) titles and 1,310 CIE (Champion International d’Expositions – International
Show Champion) titles. To these figures may be added 208 Work Champion titles (agility,
obedience, hunting, utility) plus 36 FCI-Centenary Show Champion titles. Winning
the latter, which was specially created for the purpose of celebrating the 100th
anniversary of the FCI, required 2 CACIB or 2 RCACIB plus 1 CACIB won on the occasion
of the FCI Centenary shows (Dortmund, May 2011, Paris, July 2011 and Leeuwarden,
September 2011). Altogether, no less than 8,990 titles were confirmed, compared
to 7,776 in 2010.
An amazing total of 2,013 working competitions (hunting dogs, herding dogs, Sighthounds
races, agility and obedience) was organised, which demonstrates a relatively stable
trend: in 2010, the registered competition applications amounted to 2,138.
On the other hand, another trend shows a dramatic decrease – a presumably worrying
fact: the count of registered FCI kennel names has fallen to 19,694, compared to
23,038 in 2010. Is the number of breeders decreasing? Has the kennel name granting
system changed in some countries? Unfortunately, these are questions without answers.
Let’s finish with another very interesting and heartening figure, namely the amount
of visits on the FCI websites,
http://www.fci.be
and
http://www.dogdotcom.be,
which hosts our newsletter. The fci.be website has indeed been recording
a substantial progression, from 744,000 visits for the year 2009 to 1,042,000 visits
in 2010 and 1,095,000 visits in 2011, that is a 30% increase or so in 2 years.
In addition, the newsletter website, dogdotcom.be, also shows a positive
rising curve: in 2011 – its launching year – it was visited 33,455 times, and the
number of visits reached as much as 4,360 in January 2012. This is an unquestionable
proof of fact: the Internet has definitely turned into a communication tool that
cannot be ignored.
Happy reading!
Y. De Clercq
FCI Executive Director