Breed encyclopedia
Care, character and health for the most popular dog and cat breeds in Switzerland.
Appenzeller Sennenhund
Agile, alert herding dog with high energy and a strong drive to move.
Medium
Australian Shepherd
Intelligent, eager-to-work herding dog with a striking coat and a strong need for bonding.
Medium
Bearded Dragon
Sturdy, day-active lizard with a calm temperament, the most popular beginner terrarium pet.
Medium
Beagle
Cheerful, sociable scent hound with an excellent nose and a loud bark.
Medium
Bernese Mountain Dog
Calm, loyal family dog with a distinctive tricolor coat.
Large
Border Collie
Highly intelligent herding dog with an enormous need for exercise and mental work.
Medium
British Shorthair
Calm, plush cat with a round face and easygoing temperament.
Medium
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Gentle, affectionate lap dog with a silky coat and friendly nature.
Small
Chihuahua
The world's smallest dog breed, with an outsized amount of confidence.
Small
Chinchilla
Nocturnal rodent with the densest fur of any land mammal, needs special care and a quiet environment.
Small
Dachshund
Elongated, self-assured hunting dog with a strong will of its own.
Small
Degu
Day-active, sociable rodent from the Andes with strong social behavior and high intelligence.
Small
German Shepherd
Versatile, highly trainable working dog with a strong protective instinct.
Large
Discus
Demanding, disc-shaped cichlid with magnificent coloring, regarded as the "king of the aquarium."
Small
European Shorthair
Robust, easygoing house cat with a short, low-maintenance coat.
Medium
French Bulldog
Compact, playful companion dog with distinctive bat ears.
Small
Freiberger (Franches-Montagnes)
The only native Swiss horse breed still in existence, sturdy, versatile, and known for its calm temperament.
Large
Ferret
Curious, playful predator from the weasel family, very active and in need of lots of enrichment.
Small
Golden Retriever
Gentle, patient companion with a long golden coat.
Large
Goldfish
Classic, hardy ornamental fish in many colors and shapes, the most popular aquarium pet for centuries.
Small
Golden Hamster
Small, nocturnal rodent with characteristic cheek pouches for carrying food.
Small
Greek Tortoise
Sturdy, long-lived tortoise, a popular (permit-required) pet in Switzerland for decades.
Small
Guppy
Small, colorful, and extremely undemanding livebearer, ideal for beginner aquariums.
Small
Haflinger
Sturdy, golden-colored mountain horse with a flaxen mane and tail, known for its friendly, people-oriented temperament.
Large
African Pygmy Hedgehog
Small, nocturnal spiny hedgehog, permitted as a pet in Switzerland only with a cantonal permit.
Small
Icelandic Horse
Small, sturdy gaited horse with five gaits (including the tölt), known for its friendly, even temperament.
Medium
Jack Russell Terrier
Small, fearless terrier with huge energy levels and a strong prey drive.
Small
Siamese Fighting Fish
Vividly colored labyrinth fish with dramatic flowing fins, known for aggressive behavior toward its own kind.
Small
Canary
Small songbird known for its melodious singing, especially in males.
Small
Koi
Vividly colored ornamental carp for garden ponds, bred in Japan for centuries as a "living jewel."
Large
Corn Snake
Non-venomous, calm snake species with varied color patterns, considered the ideal beginner snake.
Medium
Labrador Retriever
Friendly, playful all-rounder, one of the most popular family dogs.
Large
Leopard Gecko
Nocturnal, ground-dwelling gecko with a distinctive spotted pattern, very easy to care for.
Small
Lionhead Rabbit
Small rabbit with a distinctive wool mane around the head.
Small
Maine Coon
A gentle giant among house cats, with a bushy tail and friendly nature.
Large
Guinea Pig
Sociable, calm rodent that likes living in groups and "talks" a lot.
Small
Mixed breed
An individual blend of several breeds - character and appearance vary accordingly.
Medium
Rottweiler
Powerful, confident dog with a calm temperament and a strong protective instinct when well trained.
Large
Red-eared Slider
Aquatic turtle recognizable by the red patch behind its eye, one of the most common pet turtles worldwide.
Medium
Swiss Warmblood
Elegant, athletic sport horse, the leading Swiss breeding line for show jumping and dressage.
Large
Shetland Pony
The smallest British pony breed, very strong and hardy despite its small size, popular as a children's and family pony.
Medium
Siberian Chipmunk
Small, day-active rodent with characteristic back stripes, very agile and curious.
Small
Budgerigar
Small, sociable parrot with a lively personality and the ability to mimic words.
Small
Yorkshire Terrier
Tiny terrier with a long, silky coat and a confident, alert personality.
Small
Netherland Dwarf
One of the smallest rabbit breeds, compact with large upright ears.
Small