The Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana,^{[lower-alpha 1]} usually known as the ENCI, is the national organisation responsible for the recognition, standardisation and registration of pedigree dogs in Italy.^[1] It is sometimes called the Italian Kennel Club.^[2]

The association provides judging for dog shows and many other services relating to dog showing. The club was founded in 1882 as the Kennel Club Italiano.^[3] It is a full member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.^[4] In 1992 it received the approval of the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture; it is the only organisation approved to register dog breeds.^[5]: 7 It has offices in all regions of Italy, and a head office in Milan.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009 there were approximately 160,000 dogs registered in the national stud book; the association organised about 2000 events, including about 1200 working trials and some 400 dog shows.^[3] It gives special attention to the sixteen recognised breeds originating in Italy: the Bergamasco Shepherd, the Bolognese, the Bracco Italiano, the Cane Corso, the Cirneco dell'Etna, the Italian Greyhound, the Lagotto Romagnolo, the Maltese, the Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog, the Neapolitan Mastiff, the Segugio dell'Appennino, the short-haired and wire-haired Segugio Italiano, the Segugio Maremmano, the Spinone Italiano and the Volpino Italiano.^[6]