Schipperke dog

History of origin

Correctly the breed is called Schipperke – this name is translated from Flemish (one of the languages ​​of Belgium) as “captain” or “little captain”. So these dogs were called because, among other duties, they guarded boat stations, as well as merchant ships and barges. Although other scholars are sure that the word “schipperke” is rooted in the old dialect of the Brabant language and is translated as “little sheepdog”.

However, it is clear that, despite their small size, these dogs have never been decorative and are a real service dog. The exact origin of the breed is not known today, we can only say with certainty that small black dogs with sharp ears were known in Europe already in the XNUMXth century. In their homeland in Belgium, they performed a wide variety of work: they grazed cattle, exterminated harmful rodents, and guarded houses. At first, the Schipperke-Schipperke could be called a dog of the common people – they were constant companions of Belgian workers and shoemakers, but everything changed in the XNUMXth century, when the wife of King Leopold II of Belgium, Maria Henriette, liked the cute fluffy dogs so much that the breed became very popular among the nobility. At the same time, these dogs were first shown at the exhibition, and they were widely known throughout Europe, and then the United States.

Schipperke appeared in our country relatively recently, but has already managed to win many hearts – after all, it is difficult to resist the charming appearance of these black beauties.

Breed description

Schipperke are small dogs (up to 35 cm at the withers) of a compact format. At the same time, they do not look glamorous at all, they feel strength, energy and readiness for action. The muzzle is wedge-shaped, tapering towards the nose, the ears are triangular, erect. Eyes of medium size with an attentive lively look. The body is stocky square, the paws are stable, muscular. Schipperkes are born both tailed and tailless – both options are considered acceptable, although in the past those puppies that were born with tails had them docked. If there is a tail, then it is set high, endowed with a rich dewlap and looks very beautiful.

The coat is the pride of the breed, it is very thick and endowed with a rich undercoat. It grows unevenly on the body, giving the Schipperke a very recognizable silhouette: in the front of their body it seems larger than in the back. In fact, they are proportionately folded, but due to the rich mane, with the frequent absence of a tail, it seems that the main weight of the dog is concentrated in the head and chest area.

Schipperke has only one color – plain black. The undercoat can sometimes be gray, but it is usually not visible behind the thick coat.

Photos

Character

Schipperke is a little watchman who you can rely on in any situation. This is by no means a decorative dog that is worn under the arm as a fashion accessory, but a real service dog. So, if you have dreamed of a shepherd all your life, but the conditions of a city apartment do not allow you to get one, you should opt for a Schipperk – both in appearance and in character they resemble black Belgian and German shepherds, only on a scale of 1: 3.

Schipperke are very fond of their family, which they always strive to protect, but they can be distrustful of strangers. No, he most likely will not show aggression, but he will not be happy about the arrival of strangers in his house. Cheerful disposition and lively temperament make this dog an excellent friend of children – it will be happy to play any outdoor games. But, if you are practically never at home, your black friend can seriously feel bored alone, because these dogs need warmth and attention more than others.

Schipperkes are very active, so if you don’t let him get tired enough on a walk, he can direct his unspent energy to redoing your apartment to his liking.

Care and maintenance

The Schipperke is an easy to care for dog. As a matter of fact, only his rich fur coat may require special attention: wool, especially during the molting period, must be thoroughly combed out, otherwise black shreds will roll around the whole apartment.

Don’t expect this “little shepherd” to lie on the couch like a cat. Schipperke is constantly on the move, he is interested in everything and needs to take part in any business. Therefore, be prepared not only for long walks, but also for joint jogging. And if you are a cyclist, your black friend will be happy to tirelessly run alongside. Thanks to its compact size, the Schipperke can be taken with you on any trips and hikes.

This breed is suitable both for apartment maintenance and for a private house, moreover, the latter is preferable. Firstly, then the dog will have where to apply his talents as a guard, and secondly, he will be able to run as much as he wants.

Education and training

Approach this issue responsibly, because you are dealing with even a small, but still a serious dog. From an early age, Schipperke needs to be socialized, otherwise his guarding abilities can play a bad joke: the dog in all outsiders will see a potential threat to his beloved family and may show aggression. So in no case do not protect the puppy from communicating with other people (especially children) and animals.

Since the Schipperke is a “little shepherd”, its training should be treated accordingly. Teach him all the commands, and most importantly, earn the respect of a black friend.

Some owners note that these dogs are talented manipulators and are good at using their cute appearance to their own advantage. Of course, this is difficult, but try not to follow their lead, insist on your opinion, be confident and calm.

Health and disease

The breed originated in a country with not the hottest climate, so Schipperke have good health and are not prone to colds. If all vaccinations are done on time and parasites are prevented, then, as a rule, dogs live a long and healthy life. However, they also have hereditary diseases, such as epilepsy, problems with the endocrine system and eyes. Therefore, when taking a puppy, it is best to ask the breeder in detail what the ancestors of your future friend were sick with.

Of course, you should not neglect the advance treatment of the dog from fleas and ticks – you can simply not notice them in black thick wool. Bathing them often is not necessary, but it is necessary to clean their ears and trim their nails from time to time.

Word to the breeder

The owner of a wonderful dog named Isabelle Ekaterina Zaretskaya from Belarus: “The most important thing in Schipperk (schipperk) is a conscientious breeder who is interested in getting quality puppies. Then any owner will be pleased with his pet and he can be proud of. This breed interacts well with a person, I sometimes think that they are able to give all of themselves without a trace, if only the owner was happy. They remain habits in a puppy state for a very long time, even when they physically mature. These dogs will be what their owner wishes: a rescue hunter, a traveler, a circus performer, a border guard, or just a friend lying under a barrel in the evenings and warming with the warmth of his heart. Let their color be black, but this is the brightest ray of the sun on earth!

Breeder from St. Petersburg Valentina Shuvaeva: “Schipperke are lively, inquisitive dogs, very mobile and tireless. They belong to FCI group 1, that is, shepherd dogs.

As a child, I wanted a shepherd dog to train with, but my parents were against a large dog. And it was then that the encyclopedia of dog breeds fell into my hands, where I found a description of the Schipperke breed. In the book, among other things, it was written “this is a big dog in a small body” – it was this phrase that became the key argument in favor of choosing this breed.

I got my first Schipperke in 2014 and fell in love with this breed, it really was a small dog, only 5 kilograms, but it had the character of a large shepherd dog. These dogs are easy to train and perform successfully in such sports disciplines as agility, obedience and freestyle.

The breed is divided into two main types: American and European. American Schipperke have a brighter exterior and are usually found in show rings. While European Schipperke are lighter dogs, their coat is not as dense as that of American Schipperke and they tend to perform in a variety of cynological sports.

Now the breed is gaining popularity. Future owners should understand that Schipperke are quite active dogs that require moderate physical activity and proper education.

And also the future owner should carefully approach the choice of the breeder and the puppy itself. A good breeder will tell you about the breed, show you the health tests of the parents. The puppy should be contact, not be afraid of you, should not experience strong fear in relation to various sounds and objects. If you responsibly treat the choice of a breeder and a puppy, then you will get yourself a true friend who will delight you for many years.

Svetlana Andreeva, owner of the kennel “Amiko Khoshi”, Irkutsk: “I can dispel the myths that the schiperke, like the Spitz, is a sofa dog. This little dog, in addition to being very beautiful in appearance, has a huge level of intelligence and an indefatigable supply of energy. 100% Schipperke is a companion dog, they are easily trained and ready to do anything to be close to their human. It is important to note that they are very loyal and have a hard time with changing ownership. They love children and get along very well with other animals.

This breed is still little known, although there are already quite a lot of them in Our Country. It’s simply impossible not to love them, because they are a lively positive, there is a feeling that they are constantly smiling at you, and you definitely won’t be bored with them. ”

Elena Sokolova, owner of the Dream Canis Major multi-breed kennel, Smolensk: “Schipperke are active, cheerful, very fond of children, distrustful of strangers and easily amenable to any training (agility, OKD, ZKS, circus training) dogs. Our dogs have no health problems (genetic tests have been passed and certificates have been received). Our dogs are participants and winners not only of shows, but also of Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. There are 2 types of Schipperke (and both types are in our cattery): American and European. You can also meet their connection. Now at the peak of popularity is the American type. Because of their size, they are often confused with Spitz, but this is a mistake. The Schipperke is a Shepherd! We love and are proud of our dogs!”

Popular questions and answers

About the contents of the Schipperke we talked to zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.