It takes its name from the Saanental in the Bernese Oberland, in the southern part of the Canton of Bern, in western Switzerland.

It is a highly productive dairy goat and is distributed in more than eighty countries worldwide.

[3] The Saanen originates in the historic region of Saanen (French: Comté de Gessenay) and in the neighbouring Simmental, both in the Bernese Oberland, in the southern part of the Canton of Bern, in western Switzerland.

[5]: 398 The Saanen is the largest breed of Swiss goat:[5]: 404  billies stand about 90 cm (35 in) at the withers and weigh a minimum of 85 kg (190 lb).

The profile may be straight or somewhat concave; the ears are erect and point upwards and forwards.