OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE WORLD DOG FEDERATION

The World Dog Federation is entering a new phase of its development.

For this reason, it is necessary to state publicly and unequivocally what the World Dog Federation represents, what it expects from its national member organisations, and what it will no longer tolerate.

The World Dog Federation was not created to become a commercial umbrella under which individual clubs can operate without technical standards, without serious breeding policies and without responsibility towards canine genetics and recognised breed populations.

Every organisation that has applied to represent the World Dog Federation in its country has presented itself as a credible national alternative: an organisation capable of promoting professional cynology, responsible breeding, verifiable genealogy, genetic selection, breed preservation, qualified judging and transparent registry systems.

That commitment carries responsibilities.

Membership in the World Dog Federation is not simply permission to display a logo.

It is not a commercial licence.

It is not a mechanism through which a small organisation can gain international visibility while continuing to operate as an isolated private club according to whatever policy happens to generate the most registrations or income.

The World Dog Federation exists to develop a serious international cynological system.

Its work must therefore be based on purebred dogs, traceable genealogy, responsible breeding programmes, genetic monitoring, breed standards, health information, reliable identification, qualified judges and internationally verifiable records.

Our position regarding crossbreeds and so-called “designer breeds”

The World Dog Federation will not support the indiscriminate transformation of crossbred dogs into supposed breeds merely because a commercial market has developed around them.

Names such as Maltipoo, YorkiePoo and similar commercial combinations do not automatically constitute recognised canine breeds merely because breeders or buyers use a particular name for them.

A breed cannot be created by marketing.

A breed requires a defined population, documented ancestry, measurable morphological and genetic consistency, breeding selection over generations, an established breeding programme and sufficient evidence of stable hereditary characteristics.

The World Dog Federation will therefore distinguish clearly between:

purebred dogs belonging to established or scientifically developing breed populations;

breeds undergoing a serious recognition and consolidation process;

and simple crossbreeding programmes marketed under commercial names.

These categories cannot be treated as if they were identical.

We are fully aware that some organisations issue documents for almost any type of dog because registrations generate income.

That is their choice.

It will not be the standard of the World Dog Federation.

If the primary criterion of a kennel organisation becomes “this generates money for the club”, then the organisation has abandoned cynology and replaced it with commerce.

The World Dog Federation will not follow that path.

National representatives must behave as national organisations

Every WDF member that has accepted national representation has also accepted the responsibility of building a credible national structure.

A national representative cannot behave merely as a local dog club whose principal objectives are collecting membership fees, issuing documents and organising occasional shows.

A serious national cynological organisation must progressively demonstrate competence and results in areas such as:

breeding records and genealogy;

dog identification and microchip traceability;

litter registration;

genetic and health information;

breed development and preservation;

judge education and qualification;

breeding regulations;

digital record keeping;

national cooperation with breed organisations;

and transparent international coordination.

The World Dog Federation does not expect every organisation to reach the highest level immediately.

Development takes time.

But there must be a real direction, measurable progress and a serious commitment to professionalisation.

The WDF name cannot be used as a commercial shield

We are increasingly concerned by the possibility that some organisations may view international affiliation merely as an opportunity to strengthen their local commercial position.

This will not be accepted.

The WDF name cannot be used to give international credibility to activities that the Federation itself does not consider technically credible.

Nor can the World Dog Federation become a shelter for breeders who have encountered problems elsewhere because they refuse to respect minimum breeding standards.

Our purpose is not to create a secondary market for every activity rejected by another organisation.

Our purpose is to create a better cynological system.

There is a fundamental difference.

The World Dog Federation will support breeders who work seriously, transparently and responsibly.

It will not build its international structure around individuals whose only concern is finding an organisation willing to approve whatever they wish to breed.

A new phase of verification

During the initial expansion of the World Dog Federation, our priority was to build an international network and establish national representation in several countries.

We recognise that, in some cases, this process may have been too rapid.

That responsibility also belongs to us.

Growth, however, cannot remain an excuse for ambiguity.

The time has now come to move from expansion to qualification.

For this reason, the World Dog Federation will begin a progressive review of the activity of its national member organisations.

The purpose will not simply be to count members, exhibitions or issued documents.

We will evaluate the actual kynological work being carried out.

We will examine, among other things, registry quality, breeding policies, genealogical reliability, genetic programmes, breed development, judge qualification, digital traceability and compliance with the principles of the Federation.

The question will no longer be:

“How many documents did this club issue?”

The question will be:

“What cynological value did this organisation produce?”

One incorrect practice does not legitimise another

It is also necessary to clarify another principle.

The fact that one WDF member may have acted incorrectly does not create a precedent that allows every other member to do the same.

If inconsistencies are identified in one country, they will be addressed there.

They will not become justification for lowering standards elsewhere.

The principle “another member does it too” will never be accepted as a technical argument.

The World Dog Federation intends to establish common international standards, not a collection of exceptions.

Those who do not share this direction are free to leave

We prefer clarity to artificial unity.

Any organisation that believes the World Dog Federation should merely provide a logo, international visibility and freedom to continue operating without shared standards is free to reconsider its membership.

There are many federations and organisations in the world, each with its own philosophy.

Those who wish to operate according to different principles are entirely free to choose another path.

The World Dog Federation will not change its technical direction in order to retain a member.

We will not compromise breed integrity for membership numbers.

We will not lower genetic or genealogical standards for commercial convenience.

We will not become dependent on organisations that threaten to leave whenever a rule becomes inconvenient.

And we will not allow the name of the World Dog Federation to be used simply as a commercial instrument.

If an organisation prefers complete independence, it is free to operate independently.

What it cannot demand is complete independence while simultaneously using the credibility, name and international structure of the World Dog Federation.

Quality before quantity

The World Dog Federation has made a clear choice.

We would rather build a strong federation with fewer serious members than a large federation composed of organisations that share neither our standards nor our objectives.

Numbers alone do not create credibility.

Quality does.

Scientific seriousness does.

Reliable genealogy does.

Genetic responsibility does.

Professional judges do.

Transparent breeding programmes do.

International cooperation does.

And, above all, integrity does.

The World Dog Federation is not for sale.

Its principles are not negotiable according to the financial interests of individual clubs or breeders.

We are building an international cynological institution designed to last.

Any organisation that shares this vision will find in the World Dog Federation a committed partner.

Any organisation that does not share it should make that decision now.

It is better to move forward with fewer organisations and a clear direction than with many organisations pulling the Federation towards incompatible interests.

The future of the World Dog Federation will be built on quality, genetics, traceability, responsibility and professional cynology.

There will be no return from this direction.

World Dog Federation
International Cynological Federation