History of the Estonian Kennel Union
Organized dog keeping started at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the time when squires began to import thoroughbred dogs, mainly from eastern Europe and Russia, that were used for hunting and they also created breeding farms here. On May 20 - 22, 1897 the first show of thoroughbred dogs in the Baltics was held and the idea of establishing an association of breeders of thoroughbred dogs in the Baltics, the predecessorof the present Estonian Kennel Union, was approved. Its first general meeting was held the same year in the Hotel Imperjal in Riga and articles of association were accepted.
An independent Estonian Kennel Club was active in the years 1929 - 1940 but the activities became interrupted by the Soviet occupation. During the Soviet period, the idea of the Estonian Kennel Union was kept alive by the Estonian Hantsmen Association, the pedigree of the Estonian Kennel Club was preserved and pedigree certificates to dogs were issued. Side by side with the Estonian Hantsmen Association several other clubs were active in Estonia, all of which aimed at uniting those people who were interested in breeding thoroughbreddogs and organised education in the field.
When the political changes started at the end of 1980ies, it bacame possible to reestablish the Estonian Kennel Union. On December 9, 1989 a congress was held, where the representatives of five leading Estonian center organizations took part. In addition, goals for re-establishing the Estonian Kennel Union were formed and articles of association were approved. Thus, the December 9 can be regarded as the "birthday" of the Estonian Kennel Union.
When fulfilling its goals, the Estonian Kennel Union has followed regulative documentation of FCI and has arrenged several undertakings that meet the international standarts. Since 1991 the Estonian Kennel Union, as the central body in Estonia, was an associative member of FCI, and since June 1, 1999 is a federated member. It has close connections with kennel unionsof the Nordic countries. We cannot underestimate the value of Finnish, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic unions when it comes to experience and trainig, practical help for organizing shows and educating referees, co-ordinating breeding activities, etc. At present the Estonian Kennel Union unites 35 organisations and 1,600 individuals all of whom deal with breeding of thoroughbred dogs in Estonia. It is responsible for publishing the magazine KOER (Dog) and arranging different undertakings, including 35 shows, 5 of them for all breeds and those are included in the international calendar of the FCI.
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