The World Canine Organization, formally known as The Fédération Cynologique
Internationale, includes 98 members and contract partners that each issue
their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI makes sure that the
pedigrees and judges are mutually recognized by all the FCI members.
The FCI recognizes 354 breeds. Each of them is the ‘property’ of a specific
country. The ‘owner’ countries of the breeds write the standard of these breeds
(detailed description of the ideal type of the breed), in co-operation with
the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI. The WSSD is owned by,
and its country of origin is, Switzerland.
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog has been recognized definitive basis with the FCI
since July 4, 2011.
The FCI has a cooperative agreement called a “letter of understanding” with three
countries; the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
These countries have
different relationship terms than actual FCI member countries, which is why the
WSSD is was not just automatically recognized as a distinct breed in all countries
affiliated with the FCI. The three other countries’ organizations are:
KC (The Kennel Club (England),AKC (American Kennel Club), and CKC
(Canadian Kennel Club). The Kennel Club recognized the White Swiss Shepherd
Dog in 2017. Only two other organizations with agreements with the FCI have
not yet recognized this breed- the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel
Club.
The American Kennel Club has publicly stated that it does not have plans to accept the FCI White Swiss Shepherd as a breed within the American Kennel Club. As of this time, dogs eligible for registration into the official world studbook are to be registered with the Federación Canófila de Puerto Rico. FCPR is an FCI member country and owners can register litters and obtain export papers though this registry.