Their long, thick coats need regular brushing, but Schipperkes keep themselves fairly clean. Common health issues include hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cataracts and other eye problems. #Skipper key dog breed freeIf you can allow them to run free in a controlled space, they will definitely have a blast.Ī healthy Schipperke can live as long as 15 years. They are naturally curious and independent, so always keep them on a leash in public. Once they realize everything is A-okay, they will loosen up and join the party. Because of this, they can seem a little reserved with new people. And if you happen to own a boat, this could be your ideal second mate. In spite of their size, they make excellent watchdogs. Used for hundreds of years to guard barges from thieves and rats, Schipperkes have a built-in protectiveness. Tirelessly active, they will happily keep pace with the most intense joggers. They love playing games on the carpet, but they really love to run and play outside. Small and friendly and polite, they make good use of small spaces, running in and out of rooms to satisfy their curiosity. Schipperkes are ideal for apartment living. They get along famously with children and other pets, including cats, and they form strong bonds with their families. Loving and warm, they are eager to please, easy to train and somewhat feisty. Schipperkes combine a solid work ethic with a sense of fun. They move along with a smooth, nimble gait. Their wedge-shaped heads have pointed ears and fox-like faces, and they have small, dark eyes that give off an inquisitive expression. These thick coats grow in several different lengths around the body, including a thick ruff around the neck. Schipperkes have small, cobby, square-built bodies covered in long, harsh coats that usually come in black, but can also be found in brown, tan and red. They aroused little interest at first, but they have since amassed a modest but loyal following. Soon after, the first Schipperke came to America. In the late 1880s, a group of Belgian Schipperke fans grouped to try to save this breed, setting forth the breed’s desirable points. Most people in Belgium considered the breed common and preferred more exotic breeds. At the same time, the breed’s numbers were depleted by exports to England, where they had become extremely fashionable. After people saw the little dog with her, it sparked great interest in the breed from people of all classes, and the workman’s companion thus became companion to the elite. In 1885 Queen Marie Henriette acquired a Schipperke she saw at a dog show. By the nineteenth century this breed was so popular in central Belgium that they were virtually the only house dog found there, and they were acknowledged as the national dog. A group of Brussels shoemakers organized regular Schipperke competitions, taking special pride in adorning their companions with ornate brass collars. In fact, a breed of dog intermediate in size was one known in the region.Īlthough small black tailless dogs are mentioned in Belgian writings of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, definite evidence of Schipperkes is not found until 1690. The breed resembles a miniature Belgian Sheepdog, and it is possible that Schipperke derives from the word for shepherd, scheper. The other plausible theory of origin is that they were a dog of tradesmen guilds and middle-class households, who wanted a small dog to protect their home from rodents. The breed was less commonly called Schipperke by Belgian townspeople, however, who more often referred to them as spitz. The Flemish word for boat is schip, and Schipperke is thus thought to mean little boatman. One plausible theory is that they originated as a dog of the boatmen who traveled between Brussels and Antwerp. The origin of the Schipperke is controversial. Search Articles: Submit Search Close Search Favorites
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