The Schipperke is a small dog with an average weight of 4-7 kg, but very solidly built. He has a short body, but broad and stocky. Its limbs are fine and are straight and hard hair, forming a mane and a crop, which reinforces the strength of its neck. The tail is set high and carried drooping at rest or raised when the dog is active. The coat is always black and the undercoat can be black or dark gray.

The Schipperke is classified by the Fédération Cynologiques Internationale among sheepdogs. (1)

The Schipperke is a small dog from Flanders in Belgium. In the local language, Schipperke means “little shepherd”. His ancestor would also be a small black dog called « Leuven resident » and its origins date back to the end of the 1888th century. Already at that time, shoemakers from Brussels would have organized dog parades to admire their dogs and the attire with which they adorn them. But they were also appreciated by the people for their qualities as pest hunters. It was in the 1th century that the Schipperke was popularized by Queen Marie-Henriette of Belgium. In 2, was founded ?? the club responsible for the breed and the first standard is established the same year. (XNUMX-XNUMX)

The Schipperke is short on legs, but he is tireless. He probably derives from his past as a sheepdog to be constantly on the lookout for his surroundings and to be a very good guardian. He will not fail to signal you, by his shrill barking, a movement or an intruder that will have piqued his attention. The breed standard also describes him as “A nosy, who hunts for rats, moles and other pests”. It will adapt very well to the presence of young children or to an owner who is a little older. (1)

The Schipperke is a robust and healthy dog. According to the 2014 Kennel Club Purebred Dog Health Survey in the UK, more than three-quarters of the animals studied were disease-free. (3) He may, however, like other purebred dogs, be susceptible to developing hereditary diseases. Among these may be noted oligodontia, follicular dysplasia of black hair, galactosialidosis and diabetes mellitusÌ ?? juvenile. (4-5)

L’oligodontie

Oligodontia is a dentition anomaly characterized by a lack of teeth. Most often, it is the molars or premolars that are affected. The x-ray from 12 weeks of life makes it possible to visualize whether the tooth has never existed or if, on the contrary, it is indeed present, but has never erupted. In this case, we speak of an impacted tooth and there is a risk of secondary infection. It is also possible that the tooth was expelled naturally.

Treatment for impacted teeth involves removing them by surgery to prevent the development of secondary infections.

Oligodontics is not a serious disease and the main consideration is for breeders who need to watch it so that the trait does not become dominant in the breeding.

Black hair dysplasia

Black hair follicular dysplasia is a skin disease that affects only the hair follicles of black hair. It is characterized in particular by a loss of hair on the affected areas.

The diagnosis is mainly based on an observation of clinical signs and a histopathology examination after a skin biopsy on the injured areas. The latter reveals abnormal hair follicles, as well as a possible inflammatory reaction and clumps of keratin in the follicles.

The disease is not serious, but depending on the severity of the attack, secondary skin infections can develop.

There is no treatment and only secondary infections can be treated.

Galactosialidose

Galactosialidosis is a metabolic disease of genetic origin. It is due to the absence of a protein called “β-D-Galactosidase protective protein”. This deficit leads to an accumulation of complex lipids in the cells and in particular leads to damage to the brain and the spinal cord. The symptoms are those of an attack of the nervous system with in particular a lack of coordination and ultimately the inability for the dog to eat, drink or move around.

The disease is still poorly described and the formal diagnosis is made only during the autopsy by the observation of histological lesions in the cerebellum and the measurement of the activity of the β-D-Galactosidase enzyme.

There is no cure and the fatal course of the disease seems inevitable. (7)

Diabetes sugarÌ ?? juvenile

Diabetes sugarÌ ?? juvenile or type I diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the metabolism of glucose and results in the maintenance of too high a level of sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia). It is due to damage to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. That’s what he’s named forÌ ?? insulin-dependent diabetes.

The disease manifests itself in the first year of life, but is quite rare since it only affects about 1% of diabetic dogs (the others have type II diabetes). There are many clinical signs, but weight loss, eye problems and ketoacidosis attacks can be noted.

Examination of the clinical signs guides the diagnosis, but it is mainly hyperglycemia and the level of glucose in the urine that lead to a conclusion.

The treatment is then done by adapting the nutritional diet to reduce sugar intake and by drug control of blood sugar, in particular by injections of insulin.

The Schipperke’s coat requires weekly brushing.

Be careful with the training of this dog which, by its tendency to guard, can quickly become a chronic barker!