Switzerland has no yearly kennel club ranking of new puppies. Instead, every dog in the country must be recorded in AMICUS, the national dog database run by Identitas AG. At the end of December 2025 it held 552,351 living dogs. Among the named breeds, the Chihuahua was the most common with 25,759 dogs, just ahead of the Labrador Retriever with 24,822.
This makes the Swiss list different from the other lists in this section. It counts every living dog at one moment, young and old, not the puppies of one year, and it is not a count of kennel club pedigrees. The database also recorded 104,144 crossbreeds and 52,253 dogs of undetermined or mixed breed. We left those out, so the top 10 shows the most common breeds among Swiss dogs, not the breeds new owners chose in 2025.
Top 10 breeds in 2025
No. 1: Chihuahua
The smallest recognized breed: bold, loyal and closely attached to its favorite person.
No. 2: Labrador Retriever
Only 937 dogs behind the Chihuahua, and the most common large breed in the Swiss database.
No. 3: Poodle
A clever, athletic dog in toy, miniature and standard sizes, with a low-shedding coat that needs regular grooming.
No. 4: Yorkshire Terrier
A tiny terrier with a big personality and a fine, silky coat that needs regular grooming.
No. 5: German Spitz
A fluffy, alert spitz in several sizes, the smallest of which is known as the Pomeranian.
No. 6: French Bulldog
A compact, flat-faced companion with bat ears, happy in small homes but sensitive to heat.
No. 7: Jack Russell Terrier
A small, fearless and tireless terrier that needs plenty of exercise and something to do.
No. 8: Border Collie
One of four active working and sporting breeds in the top 10, with 14,710 dogs in the database.
No. 9: Golden Retriever
A gentle, eager-to-please family dog with a long coat that sheds a lot and needs regular brushing.
No. 10: Australian Shepherd
A bright, high-energy herding dog developed in the United States, happiest with work, sport or long daily outings.
Reading this year’s list
Because the database counts every living dog, the list changes slowly. A dog bought ten years ago counts as much as a puppy bought last month, so the order reflects choices made over many years. It also means crossbreeds deserve a mention: taken as one group, the 104,144 crossbreeds would outnumber the Chihuahua about four to one.
Small dogs are strong here. The Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier (15,971), German Spitz (15,841), French Bulldog (15,539) and Jack Russell Terrier (14,956) all make the top 10, and the Maltese is not far behind at No. 12 with 9,248. Places 3 to 8 are very close: only about 1,400 dogs separate the Poodle (16,118) from the Border Collie (14,710).
The other half of the list is made up of active working and sporting breeds: the Labrador, Border Collie, Golden Retriever (11,911) and Australian Shepherd (10,055). The Dachshund just misses the top 10 with 9,836 dogs. No Swiss breed appears among the twelve most common breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog, for example, is in Canada's top 10 but not near the top of its home country's database.
About the No. 1 breed: Chihuahua
- Size
- Toy
- FCI group
- 9 · Companion and toy dogs
- Origin
- Mexico
Temperament
Chihuahuas are bold, alert and deeply attached to their people, often to one person in particular. Many are wary of strangers and quick to bark at new sounds, which makes them keen little watchdogs. Some snap if they are handled roughly or startled. Early, gentle contact with visitors, children and calm dogs helps a Chihuahua grow into a confident, relaxed adult.
Size and build
The smallest recognized breed, with a rounded head, large ears and a smooth or long coat. The FCI standard asks for a weight of about 1.5 to 3 kg, and 3 kg is the upper limit. Height is not set in the standard, but most stand roughly 15 to 23 cm at the shoulder.
Daily care
A Chihuahua needs short walks and indoor play every day rather than long hikes. It loses body heat quickly, so a coat is sensible in Swiss winters, and deep snow is hard work for such short legs. Brush a smooth coat weekly and a long coat a few times a week. Regular tooth brushing is important. Steps or a ramp help it avoid jumping down from sofas and beds.
Who it suits
Adults in flats, older people and anyone who wants a close companion that travels easily, in a home where someone is around most of the day. A Chihuahua is a poor match for families with toddlers, who can easily drop or hurt it, or for people who want a hiking or running partner.
Health in general terms
Dental disease is very common in tiny breeds, so ask a vet to check the teeth at every visit. Kneecaps that slip out of place (patellar luxation), heart valve disease and some eye problems are also known in the breed. Some Chihuahuas keep a small soft spot on the top of the skull, which a vet can check. Ask a breeder about the parents' knee and heart examinations.
This is general breed information, not medical advice. Ask a veterinarian about your own dog, and ask any breeder about the health tests used for the parents.
Why the Chihuahua is popular in Switzerland
The AMICUS statistics are a register, not a survey, and they give no reasons for any breed's position. So there is no official explanation for the Chihuahua's lead. One feature of the data may play a part: small breeds often live longer than large ones, and a long-lived breed stays in a count of living dogs for more years.
The breed's traits also fit many Swiss homes. A Chihuahua needs very little space and can live comfortably in a flat. It is light enough to carry in a bag on trains, buses and mountain lifts, and its exercise needs can be met with short walks. It forms a close bond with its owner, which suits people who live alone or who are at home much of the day.
What these rankings measure
National kennel club breed rankings are registration rankings, not a census of the dogs living in each country. Only purebred puppies registered with the national kennel club are counted. Mixed-breed dogs, dogs from shelters and most dogs bred outside the club system never appear. Rules and fees differ between clubs, so the numbers are best compared within one country, not across countries.