Here are the changes which took place at the head of the french Kennel Club on July 26, 2005.
Following Renaud Buche’s resignation on July 12, the French Kennel was without a president for two weeks.
Gérard Arthus succeeded to Renaud Buche, by being elected President of the Société Centrale Canine, on July 26, 2005. Until then he was one of the four vice-presidents. Gerard Arthus is the president of the oldest French Breed Club, the French Spaniel Club which was founded in 1898 (8 different Spaniel breeds are managed by the club). He had been elected president of the club in 1993. It was the second time in the history of the French Kennel Club that the president of the Spaniel Club was elected to the highest function in dog fancy, the first one being Gilbert Thorp ( at that time, the English Cocker was the second most popular breed in France just behind the German Shepherd, and its number of births was then close to that of the Labrador today). Gérard Arthus had joined the committee in october 1994. he is elected president at a difficult time, as the French Kennel Club has to face several significant changes, both in its internal management and in its mission of public service.
As Gérad Arthus was one of the four vice-presidents, he left one empty chair by becoming president. To replace him, the committee elected Daniel Schwartz, who was until then vice general secretary. Daniel Schwartz is also the president of the Franche Comté Canine Society, and he belongs to several technical commisions within the SCC (dog shows, judges, etc.)
Daniel Schwartz’s position being left vacant, he was replaced by Jean-Claude Métans, who was the main organiser of the French Championship Show in Nantes in 2004. Jean Claude Métans is the president of the one of the most influent breed clubs in France, that of the English Toy Spaniels, whose top breed, the Cavalier King Charles, is very often among the most popular breeds in shows. He is also the president of the Tibetan Dogs club, and he is one of the most active members of the committee. He is said to be a very hard-working man.