Guide

Before getting a dog in Switzerland, ask for permission

28 June 2026

The perfect puppy, a rented home — and what if the lease doesn't allow dogs? The question to ask before choosing a Maltipoo, Poodle, Dachshund or French Bulldog.

You've found the perfect puppy. A Maltipoo. A Toy Poodle. A Miniature Poodle. A Dachshund. A French Bulldog. You've already pictured the walks, the photos, the holidays, the first day at home. Perfect. Now stop for a moment. Because there's a much less romantic question you should ask yourself before choosing the dog.

Do you have permission to keep it

If you live in a home you own, you can probably keep reading with peace of mind. If you rent in Switzerland, however, this might be the most important page you read today.

The question nobody asks

Many families spend weeks looking for the best Maltipoo breeder in Switzerland, the best Toy Poodle, the perfect puppy, the ideal temperament, the ideal colour. And forget one essential thing: checking whether they can legally keep the dog in their home. And no — that is not a formality.

Welcome to Switzerland

The country of watches. Of chocolate. Of order. Of precision. And of permits. Many permits. So many that sometimes it feels like the real national sport isn't skiing, but filling in forms.

The problem isn't the dog — it's the lease

Many people think: "it's a small dog", "it's a Maltipoo", "it's a Toy Poodle", "it doesn't bother anyone". All true. But often completely irrelevant. Because the point isn't how much the dog weighs — the point is what the lease actually says.

The puppy doesn't read the contract, you do

A puppy doesn't know what house rules, a contract or a clause are. You do. And before falling in love with a puppy you should check: does the lease allow keeping dogs? Is prior authorisation required? Are there specific restrictions? Does the landlord need to approve the animal? Are there building rules? Unromantic questions — but far cheaper than a future problem.

The worst moment to ask this question is afterwards

Every year, people book the puppy, prepare the home, buy everything, fall in love — and only then discover there's a problem tied to the home. At that point we're no longer talking about a simple purchase: we're talking about an emotional bond. And that's exactly what makes everything harder.

The smartest advice we can give you

Before searching for "Maltipoo Switzerland", "Toy Poodle Switzerland", "Poodle breeder Switzerland" or "available puppies Switzerland", look for an answer to a much simpler question: can I legally keep a dog in my home? If the answer is yes, you can start searching for the puppy. If it's maybe, clarify. If it's no, stop — before investing emotions, time and money.

The truth no one says

People think the first step to getting a dog is finding the dog. It isn't. The first step is checking that your lifestyle is compatible with a dog. And that includes time, family, work, environment — and yes, the lease too.

A Maltipoo doesn't solve a bureaucratic problem

Neither does a Poodle. As adorable, smart and perfect as it may be: a puppy can't change a contract, convince a landlord or negotiate a clause. Those things must be sorted out first.

The real start of the journey

Many think the journey begins when they meet the puppy. No — it begins much earlier. It begins when you prepare to welcome it properly, when you check that everything is in order, when you create the right conditions. Because the best match between a family and a dog isn't born from improvisation: it's born from preparation.

The golden rule

Permission first. Puppy second. Not the other way around. It may sound like the most boring advice in the world. But it might also be the one that spares you the biggest problem.