The schipperke is a small sheepdog originally from Belgium. Its fox-like appearance doesn't hide its kinship with the Belgian Shepherd Dog, to which it is linked by a common ancestor. Like most sheepdogs, the schipperke is a dog with a curious and active character, ideal for surveillance due to its high-pitched barking that will warn us of any unforeseen event that happen. Despite its small size, the schipperke needs a medium-high dose of daily exercise, so it will be much better off living in a house or apartment with outdoor space.
If you love this breed of dog and are interested in adopting one, don't miss this ExperoAnimal file in which we are going to show you all the information you need to know about the schipperke, from its origins or its physical appearance, even its personality and the care it needs to be a he althy and happy dog.
Origin of the schipperke
The history of this breed is intertwined with that of the Belgian Shepherds, as they share a common ancestor. Schipperke means "little shepherd" in Flemish, and the ancestor from which these dogs and all Belgian shepherds derive, was called "leuvenaar".
In the 17th century these dogs were the favorite pets of shoemakers in the San Gery neighborhood of Brussels, and were responsible for keeping the populations of rats, mice and other vermin low. At that time their tails were amputated, due to a cruel tradition that fortunately is being lost.
Later, Queen Maria Henrica took a liking to the breed and that put the schipperke among the most valued dog breeds in Belgium and one of the most popular in Europe. Today it is not such a famous breed, but it is very popular in its country of origin and in other European countries.
Physical characteristics of the schipperke
The breed standard does not indicate a certain height. However, schipperkes are small dogs that are around 29 centimeters. Females usually have a height at the withers of between 25 and 30 centimeters. The height at the withers of the males is usually between 28 and 33 centimeters.
The weight can range from 3 to 9 kilograms, the average being between 4 and 7 kilograms. The body is short and wide, but not excessively bulky or heavy. The length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is equal to the height at the withers, giving this dog a square build. The legs are thin when compared to the body, as they have fine bones.
The lupoid head (wolf-like in appearance) is wedge-shaped and wide. It is not elongated and the snout is short. The nose is black and small. The eyes are dark brown, small and almond-shaped. They have mischievous, intense and penetrating expression. The ears are straight, pointed, small and triangular.
The tail of the schipperke is set high and long, reaching at least to the hock. The dog usually carries it down or, when in action, raised a little but not exceeding the vertical. However, tails curled or carried over the back are acceptable. Some dogs are also born without a tail or with a rudimentary tail, situations accepted by the breed standard.
The hair of these dogs is of medium length over most of the body, but short on the ears, head, front of forelegs, hocks and hindquarters. On the neck the hair is longer and forms a distinctive collar of the breed. It is double coated, the outer coat being hard, straight, dense and firm. The undercoat is soft and dense.
Schipperke Character
In general, these dogs are curious, overflowing with vitality and watchdogs. Although they are independent, they also need a lot of company.
Schipperke tend to be very friendly with their family, but wary of strangers. That makes them very good watchdogs, as they tend to bark at the slightest surprise. They can get along with other dogs and other pets, provided they have been properly socialized. To avoid problems, both with humans and with other animals, it is important to socialize these dogs from an early age.
When these dogs are well socialized and educated, they can be excellent pets for almost any family. However, they are too small to tolerate rough treatment from small children, so they are not recommended as pets for families with children under the age of approximately eight.
Schipperke care
These dogs They shed regularly, but even more so during shedding seasons, which can be as frequent as three times a year. In times when they do not shed, weekly brushing is enough to maintain the coat. In times of shedding, however, brushing should be more frequent and it may be necessary to bathe the dog occasionally to help remove dead undercoat.
Schipperke require plenty of exercise despite their small size, but fortunately their needs can be easily met. A good daily walk or some playtime each day may be enough for these little sheepdogs to burn off their energy. However, care must be taken not to push the dogs too hard, especially with jumping exercises, to avoid damaging their hips.
Schipperke Education
These dogs don't excel at dog training, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart. Quite simply, They are more easily distracted than other dogs Like the rest, traditional training methods do not work well for them because they try to correct bad behaviors based on punishments. That's why better results are achieved when you take advantage of the dogs' natural instincts and use positive training methods, such as clicker training.
Because they are small and come from a herding dog lineage, Schipperkes don't usually cause much trouble. However, they tend to be barkers and their constant barking can be a problem for many people, especially if they live in a building. dogs so that they do not bark continuously, they can live perfectly well in a ratatouille. And even better if it is a house with a garden, where the schipperke will be happy to spend some part of the day in it (with access to water and shade, of course), but should not spend all day alone outside. He shouldn't sleep outside either.
He alth schipperke
Although this breed does not tend to have more hereditary diseases than the average, it is susceptible to a few. Among the diseases to which it is susceptible are:
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (deformity of the hip-femur joint),
- hip dysplasia
- distichiasis
- waterfalls
- progressive retinal atrophy.
Due to the breed's predisposition to hip problems, it is important to prevent the Schipperke from becoming overweight.
