Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft

The Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft (SKG) — in French Société Cynologique Suisse (SCS), in Italian Società Cinologica Svizzera — is the umbrella association of most dog breeders in Switzerland. Founded in 1883, it is organised as a Verein (association) under Art. 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code and has its seat in Balsthal. It is the Swiss member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the world canine organisation, and acts as the national body responsible for kynological interests in Switzerland, representing them before authorities and foreign kennel organisations. The SKG's core mission is to promote the purebred dog and to accompany breeding. For this purpose it maintains the Swiss Dog Stud Book (Schweizerisches Hundestammbuch, SHSB/LOS). It also promotes knowledge about the nature of the dog and its relationship to humans, and about breeding, keeping, training and education of dogs based on scientific findings and the principles of animal welfare. Within the FCI, the SKG is responsible for the breed standards of the Swiss dog breeds: Appenzeller Sennenhund, Berger Blanc Suisse, Berner Sennenhund, Bernhardiner (St. Bernard), Entlebucher Sennenhund, Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Schweizer Laufhund and Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund. At national level it additionally recognises the Continental Bulldog. The association is a federation of sections — independent clubs — and currently counts 358 sections with a total of about 68,000 members in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It offers a broad range of courses, further education and continuing training, and is engaged in dog sport and sport ethics, advocating fair and responsible handling in canine sports. It also operates the Albert-Heim-Stiftung, a foundation for the promotion of scientific kynological research, and publishes the magazine Hund Schweiz (German) eight times a year as well as Info Chiens (French; formerly Cynologie Romande). As a membership organisation, the SKG is not a listed company; it is a non-profit association. Its public-facing work includes the consumer information portal HUND SCHWEIZ, which answers questions for current and prospective dog owners on topics such as choosing a dog, finding a good breeder, travelling with a dog and Swiss legal rules for dog owners. The SKG also offers a patron membership (Gönnermitgliedschaft) through which supporters can back its goals. Its central board (Zentralvorstand) governs the association and admits new local sections.

The Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft was founded in 1883, making it one of the older national kennel organisations in Europe. From its beginnings it has acted as the umbrella body for dog breeding clubs in Switzerland, and it has represented Swiss kynological interests for well over a century. Its seat is in Balsthal, in the canton of Solothurn. As the national organisation, the SKG is affiliated with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the world umbrella organisation of kennel clubs. Within the FCI it holds responsibility for the breed standards of the Swiss dog breeds: the Appenzeller Sennenhund, Berger Blanc Suisse, Berner Sennenhund, Bernhardiner (St. Bernard), Entlebucher Sennenhund, Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Schweizer Laufhund and Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund. At the national level it additionally recognises the Continental Bulldog. A central instrument of the association is the Schweizerisches Hundestammbuch (SHSB/LOS), the Swiss Dog Stud Book, through which pedigree breeding is documented and accompanied. The SKG also set itself the task of promoting the purebred dog and of guiding breeding according to scientific findings and the principles of animal welfare, in line with Swiss animal-protection legislation. Over time the association has grown into a federation of hundreds of sections — independent clubs — with tens of thousands of members in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It runs a broad programme of courses, further education and continuing training, and it engages in dog sport and sport ethics. It also operates the Albert-Heim-Stiftung, a foundation dedicated to promoting scientific kynological research, and it publishes the magazine Hund Schweiz eight times a year in German, as well as Info Chiens in French (formerly Cynologie Romande). In the digital era the SKG has expanded its public information work, including the HUND SCHWEIZ portal, which is organised into eight thematic areas and offers guidance to both prospective and long-standing dog owners. The association also offers a patron membership for supporters. Its governing body, the Zentralvorstand (central board), continues to admit new local sections and to steer the association's activities.

• 2026

  Central board (Zentralvorstand) admitted ProfiNetz HUND SCHWEIZ as a new local section at its meeting of 16 September 2026.

• 1883

  Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft founded; it has represented kynological interests in Switzerland since then.

• Affiliated with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as the Swiss national organisation.

• Maintains the Schweizerisches Hundestammbuch (SHSB/LOS), the Swiss Dog Stud Book.

• Operates the Albert-Heim-Stiftung foundation for scientific kynological research.

• Publishes Hund Schweiz eight times a year and Info Chiens (formerly Cynologie Romande).

National umbrella association and FCI member for Switzerland, promoting purebred dog breeding, responsible dog ownership and canine sport under animal-welfare principles.

• Schweizerisches Hundestammbuch (SHSB/LOS)

  The Swiss Dog Stud Book, through which the SKG documents and accompanies pedigree breeding.

• Breed standards for Swiss breeds

  Within the FCI, the SKG is responsible for the standards of Appenzeller Sennenhund, Berger Blanc Suisse, Berner Sennenhund, Bernhardiner, Entlebucher Sennenhund, Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Schweizer Laufhund and Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund; nationally it also recognises the Continental Bulldog.

• Courses and further education

  A broad range of training courses as well as further and continuing education offerings.

• Dog sport and sport ethics

  The SKG is committed to fair and responsible handling in dog sport.

• Hund Schweiz magazine

  German-language magazine published eight times a year.

• Info Chiens magazine

  French-language magazine, formerly Cynologie Romande.

• HUND SCHWEIZ portal

  Consumer information website organised into eight thematic areas for current and future dog owners.

• Patron membership (Gönnermitgliedschaft)

  Supporters can back the SKG's goals through a patron membership.

1. 1Home - SKGskg.ch
2. 2Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org