Schipperke Dogs Information

Written by: Shawna L. Krautheim

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: Little Boatman, Spitzke, Belgian barge dogs

Common Misspellings:  Shipperkey, Shipperkee

Learn all about Schipperke Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the Schipperke dog breed. You'll find solid information about Schipperke dog history, Schipperke life expectancy Schipperke dog appearance, Schipperke temperament and personality, Schipperke health problems, Schipperke puppy care, training Schipperke puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible Schipperke dog breeder.

There are many misconceptions about this feisty black dog. Some are led to believe that he is a relative of the Spitz breed, while others argue he is a descendant of the Pomeranian. Neither are correct, nor did this unique little dog originate as a Dutch dog, as some are prone to thinking. In fact, the Schipperke is a descendant of a black sheepdog, known as the Leauvenaar.

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Schipperke Facts

The Schipperke Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Schipperke Height: 10-13 inches at the shoulder

Schipperke Weight: 11-18 pounds

Schipperke Color Variations: None

Schipperke Size Variations: None

Schipperke Exercise Needs: Demanding

Schipperke Grooming Demands: Reasonable

Schipperke Trainability: Medium Difficult

Schipperke Life Expectancy: 12-16 years

Average Schipperke Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: Yes, with supervision.

Good With Other Pets: Cats OK

Breed Group: Non-Sporting

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Schipperke Dog History

Originating in the Flemish provinces of Belgium, the Schipperke is a downsized version of the Leauvenaar, a 40 pound sheepdog that was commonly used to tend flocks in neighboring Louvain. Bred down in size, the Schipperke was specifically bred to be a miniature watchdog, prized for his loyalty and attentive nature. The Schipperke can also claim that the very first "specialty show" was for their breed. Held back in 1690, in the Grand Palace of Brussels, the show was especially for the Schipperkes of the Guild's workmen. Of course, back then, the breed was known as the Spits dog, or the Spitske; they did not earn the name Schipperke until their specialty club was formed in 1888.

The name "Schipperke," means "little captain," and suggests that these unique little black watchdogs were popular with the workmen along the canals. In truth, however, they were just as popular with shoemakers and other members of the working class as well. Tired with the repeated thieving of the neighbor's dog, a shoemaker cut off the animal's tail. Noting the improvements that this made to the dog’s appearance, it is said that this is the reason why all Schipperke tails are cut off at a young age. Contrary to popular belief, the Schipperke breed are not always born without a tail.

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Schipperke Dog Appearance

Possessing a square profile, the Schipperke stands between 10-13 inches high at the shoulder. Their face is decidedly fox-like in appearance, though their body structure and rich black coloring tend to make them resemble a little bear. Possessing a thick neck ruff, as well as longer, thicker fur along the back, at the chest and along the backs of all the legs, the Schipperke appears to drastically slope off from crown to hindquarters and they appear to be strong and solidly built little animals.

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Schipperke Grooming

Grooming your Schipperke isn't as hard as it looks. Shown in a natural state, they require no special clipping or trims to look their best. In fact, a good brushing once a week is about all that your own "little captain" should require. A wire brush works best for this, but you have to be very careful not to scratch the skin. For inexperienced pet owners, a comb may be a safer route, ensuring that the coat remains mat-free.

Also be sure to keep your pet's toenails clipped and be sure to watch his teeth for any signs of decay. If started at a young age, many dogs will allow you to brush his teeth, helping to promote healthier mouths.

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Schipperke Exercise Needs

The Schipperke is an active little dog who does best if allowed the liberty of roaming his own fenced-in back yard. In fact, many Schipperke breeders will not even sell a puppy to a home where they do not have a fenced yard at the very least. Due to the activity levels of these little dogs, mere walking alone fails to cut it - they would far prefer to race and jump and roll in the grass cheerfully. A sedentary lifestyle is not for them.

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Schipperke Temperament

The Schipperke is not a high-strung, nor a yappy dog, as one might be prone to think. In fact, if they have been socialized properly and come from calm and stable breeding stock, the Schipperke is generally a pretty laid back and accepting individual. They are known to be very tolerant of children and other animals alike, though there is some need for establishing a pecking order in Schipperke of the same sex that are kept in the same home.

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Schipperke Training

The Schipperke is a highly intelligent and willful little dog; while they do respond well to positive reinforcement, their insatiable curiosity and independence can sometimes make the simplest of tasks appear daunting. Slow to mature, the Schipperke takes patience and guidance. More often than not, Schipperke owners usually remark that their dogs suddenly became more cooperative at 18 months of age, and that they were surprised by what all the dog had apparently learned but chose to play dumb with. Apparently, like many teenagers, the Schipperke has selective hearing.

Schipperke Health

Like any breed of dog, the Schipperke is not immune to his own variety of health concerns. For this reason, when deciding to choose a new Schipperke dog or puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A good breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect the Schipperke include:

Legg-Perethes syndrome
Entropion
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Distichiasis

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Is the Schipperke Right For You?

The Schipperke is a wonderful family pet and yet he is still not the dog for everyone. Highly active and sometimes aggressive to dogs of the same sex, he can be quite the handful at times. If you don’t mind finding your way around dealing with these problems and have a lot of time and dedication to devote to a small dog, a Schipperke has a lot of love to give you in return.

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Schipperke Prices

Average Schipperke Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Schipperke dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great Schipperke puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a Schipperke dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your Schipperke puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Schipperke breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

Schipperke prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality Schipperke puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding Schipperke Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable Schipperke puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of Schipperke Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable Schipperke breeders. We actively screen Schipperke breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible Schipperke breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your Schipperke puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect Schipperke puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of Schipperke dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional Schipperke Resources:

• Schipperke Wikipedia Profile
• AKC Schipperke Breed Profile
• Schipperke Pictures
• Schipperke Videos

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