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Rescue a
Schipperke
Schipperke Puppies for Sale
Schipperke
Ruck, the
purebred AKC Schipperke.
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Find a
Schipperke Breeder
Place an Ad |
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Rescue a
Schipperke
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Pronunciation |
SKIP-er-kee |
Description |
The Schipperke is small and described as fox-like. The body is square in profile. When the skull is seen from the side it looks slightly rounded, narrowing towards the muzzle. The muzzle is slightly shorter than the length of the skull. The small nose is black. The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The small, oval eyes face forward on the head. The erect ears are high-set and triangular in shape. The chest is wide, reaching to the elbows. The topline is level or sloping slightly towards the back of the dog. They are sometimes born tailless, but if they are born with a tail it is customarily docked to the base to the point where there is no tail visible. Note: docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe. Dewclaws are usually removed. The thick double coat is shorter on the face, ears, front of the forelegs and the hocks. The coat is medium in length on the body and even longer around the neck, shoulders and rump. Coat color comes most commonly in a solid black,which is the only color accepted by the
AKC, but also comes in range of tans and fawns which
are acceptable by some other clubs.
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Temperament |
The Schipperke are quick,
energetic little dogs. High-spirited, alert, and self-confident. Very devoted and loyal, especially with
children. It really bonds to its master. Pet cats will be happily accepted and they are
usually good with other dogs. They are very smart, curious and mischievous. These dogs do exceptionally well
on boats. Among the Schipperke's best qualities are the ability to defend its
home against intruders - backing down from nobody, and being an excellent
friend to children. Some can be difficult to housebreak. Socialize well to prevent them from becoming wary and aloof with strangers. Easy to train as it is intelligent and eager to
learn. Often times small dogs such as the Schipperke developed what is known as Small Dog Syndrome, varying degrees of human induced behaviors, where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. When a dog is allowed to rule the home, they can develop behavior problems, such as, but not limited to guarding, obsessive barking, separation anxiety, growling, snapping and even biting. Schipperke who have been allowed to take over are said to have become hot-tempered, willful and protective. If someone new visits, they
will adopt a watchful position and try to defend its territory, whether it is an apartment or a piece of land,
against both two-legged and four-legged intruders. They may become an obsessive barker as they try and tell YOU what to do or try and TELL OTHERS to leave THEIR area. Schipperke like to howl. After the initial bark to alert you, they need to be told enough is enough and to quiet down. Schipperke who are given rules to follow, limits to what they are and are not allowed to do, along with a consistent, firm pack leader, and a daily pack walk, will not developed these negative behaviors. Dogs who have already developed them, will change for the better, as soon as their canine instincts are being met. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: 10-13
inches (21-33cm.)
Weight: 12-18 pounds (5.5-8 kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Hypothyroid,
epilepsy, hip dysplasia and hip sockets which tend to slip. Legg Calves
Perthes, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Cataracts, and a newly discovered
disease called MPS 111B (Mucopolysaccharidosis). There is a genetic test available for the MPS 111B
through the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Be careful not to overfeed this breed. |
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Living Conditions |
The Schipperke are good
dogs for apartment life. They are very active indoors. These dogs are incredibly
quick and it is a good idea to have a fenced yard. |
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Exercise |
Schipperkes are an active
and tireless breed. To be happy and mentally stable, they need to be taken on a
daily, long walk or jog. They
also enjoy play and getting a chance to run. This breed is very active indoors and will get a lot of its exercise
running around your house. It will greatly enjoy running free off its lead in a
safely fenced in yard or a park. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 15 or more years. |
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Grooming |
The Schipperke is very
clean and pretty much takes care of its own grooming, but to keep the
medium-length double coat in top condition, comb and brush regularly with a firm
bristle brush. Dry shampoo when necessary. They shed very little until the coat
"blows" which can be as often as 3 times a year on bitches. Less
so on males and spayed bitches, especially as they age. This coat change is a
sudden drop of ALL undercoat within about a 10 day period. One owner states
"I've pulled out up to two shopping bags full of soft down hair out of one
12 pound Schip! I find it easier and quicker to give them a hot bath then force
air the coat two or three times during this week (always outside!) to get rid of
all the loose, itchy hair before the dog leaves it all over the house. A groomer
could do this for the person without a force dryer. They are literally naked and
butt ugly for about 2-3 months, depending on the time of year and how much time
they spend outside, for the hair to come back to a new lustrous coat." |
| Origin |
The Schipperke was bred in
Flanders by a canal boat captain named Renssens. They were descended from a 40 pound (18 kg.) black sheepdog, known as the Leauvenaar, which is the same sheep-herding stock that the black Belgian Sheepdog descended from. The Schipperke was
bred smaller and smaller and eventually became a different breed entirely. The dogs became a favorite choice to guard canal barges in Belgium. The breed was used for herding livestock, hunting game, or simply guarding his domain. In Flemish
the word "schip" means boat, hence where they got their name "Schipperke". They earned the nickname "Little Captain" and "Little Skipper", because
the dogs were the "ratters", a very important function on a canal barge, and
also usually the captain's dog. The breed became very popular in Belgian households by the late
1800's. It first appeared at a dog show in 1880. From that point on it was
exported throughout the world. The
Schipperke do very well on boats and people often get this breed to come along
with them on boating and fishing trips. It makes a great guard dog when the boat
anchors for the night, alerting of anything out of the ordinary and the dog
thoroughly enjoys its trip. The Schipperke was recognized by the AKC in 1904.
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| Group |
Northern, AKC Non-Sporting |
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Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB,
CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, SCiPS, APRI, ACR, DRA |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
KCGB = Kennel
Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand
Kennel Club
SCiPS = Schipperke
Club of Puget Sound
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc. |
"This is Shade, a Schipperke at
3 years old, and he's the best dog I've ever owned. My family runs a
lodge in South Dakota (the Black Hills) during the summer, and every
year Shade comes with us. He knows the boundaries and spends every day
making rounds over the place, barking whenever a car pulls in, and as
soon as they get out he greets them and leads them to the office door.
He's extremely stranger-friendly and plays with all the kids even though
he's never met them, tolerating all their man-handling with a wagging
tail. When we have campfires I tell him "Shade, sing us a song" and at
that que he will yodel for you, which makes everyone laugh. He's my
sunshine, and I have never met a more intelligent, entertaining boy!"
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Centaur:
the Pony & Schipperke Collector
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Calua at 7 months
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Tori and her brother Buddy at 3 months old
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Tori the
Schipperke enjoying what she does best, riding on the boat with daddy!
Schipperke Pictures 1
Schipperke Pictures 2
Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs
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