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Appearance Schipperekes are small dogs, about twelve inches in height. They are black and tailless, with a face that resembles a fox. Schipperkes are very thickset and have an abundant coarse coat. They have dark brown oval-shaped eyes and small triangular ears. They are born with a tail, and it is docked to be about one inch long. The nose is small and black. Schipperkes can be black, tan, or fawn colored, however, the AKC only accepts black.
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Origin Schipperkes come from the Flemish provinces of Belgium. The name “Schipperke” is Flemish for “little captain.” They were popular watchdogs on barges in northern Europe and were used to capture rodents on the ships. The queen of Belgium bought a schipperke in 1885, which quickly made them famous. Three years later, in 1888, they came to the United States.
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Grooming Schipperkes are very easy to groom. Since they have short coats, they only need brushing about every week or so. They shed during the summer, so that is the time period that they should be brushed about every day. Doing this will keep your Schipperke comfortable and also lessen your home of dog hair. Schipperkes do not need to be bathed much, either. Sometimes the outer coat sheds dirt and causes some Schipperkes to have an odor, so use a mild dog shampoo. |
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Training Training for Schipperkes is just like training any other dog. Remember to use short and simple commands, for example, “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” “come,” and “down.” Say “sit” firmly while pressing on your dog’s behind. Say “stay” while putting your hand in front of your dog’s nose pointing down. Slowly walk away while continuing to say ‘stay.” Say “heel” while keeping your dog at your side. Say “come” while motioning to your dog to come to you. Say “down” when you see your dog about to lay down. Your dog will soon learn all of these commands if you are consistent with your training. |
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Temperament Schipperkes have a great personality. They are loyal and protective to children and very energetic. Although they can be mischievous, they are intelligent and watchful little dogs. They like to bark and howl, and schipperkes love to travel! They’re good around cats and usually good around other dogs, too. Schipperkes defend their territory very well and are great family pets.
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Potential Health Problems Schipperkes are pretty much free of major health problems, but there are a few to look out for. Some schipperkes have a chronic cough, which develops from the trachea of the individual dog. Epilepsy has become common in the breed, also. Other health problems include fungus infections, parasites, and Legg-Perthies disease, all of which can be prevented with proper medication.
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