Switzerland Dog Names

The Bernese Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Saint Bernard are all breeds that originated in Switzerland.  As a country that is home to the Swiss Alps, is it any wonder that Switzerland is home to these sturdy breeds that excel in the mountains and are often used as rescue dogs? 

Actresses Hilary Duff and Sarah Michelle Gellar are among celebrities that have owned the beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog.  Hilary lost her Bernese, Dubois, in February 2018.  Sarah Michelle Gellar has beautiful Bella, the Bernese. Then we have the famous Saint Bernard movies, Beethoven.  Six Beethoven movies have been made in total. There’s no doubt that these Swiss breeds make excellent pets and celebrities in their own right!  

The spotlight name for this guide is Otto.  The name Otto is of German origin originally, and that makes sense because Switzerland borders Germany and is a German speaking country.  The name Otto actually means riches and wealth, so it’s considered to be a lucky name.  It’s also short, sweet and cute.  A famous canine named Otto appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest dog in the world, from 2009, until his death in 2010. Although there are others who suggest their dog to be older than Otto, Otto’s owner was able to provide evidence to the Guinness Book of World Record producers, and he was awarded the title based on that.  Otto was a Dachshund Terrier cross breed and he actually appeared on The Paul O’Grady Show to be presented with a certificate acknowledging his world record position.  The show was aired on the 4^th November 2009, and was covering the topic of elderly dogs for that particular episode.  Otto lived out a regular kind of life, with his owners Lynn and Peter Jones, in Shrewsbury, England, until he was named oldest dog in October 2009.  Sadly, he died in the following January, just a month before his 21^st birthday.

Another Swiss inspired name is Brigitte, however, Brigitte is of French origin.  French names are also common in Switzerland, due to its common border with France.  A French Bulldog named Brigitte played family pet, Stella, in the ABC television series, Modern Family.  In 2012, Brigitte won ‘The Best Dog in a TV series’ award at The Best Collar Awards.  Brigitte appeared in Modern Family in season 2 and 3 of the show, but was replaced by her understudy Beatrice, due to a dispute between the owner and the hiring animal agency.