Videos Schipperke Breed Information
Alternative names - Spitzke (until 1888), Spits(until 1888), Spitske(until 1888)
Country of origin -
Belgium
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
1 Section 1 #083|Stds
AKC:|Non-sporting|Stds
ANKC:|Group 7
(Non-sporting)|Stds
CKC:|Group
6 (Non-sporting)|Stds
KC
(UK):|Utility|Stds
NZKC:|Non-sporting|Stds
UKC:|Companion
Breeds|Stds
A Schipperke (pronounced skipper-kee)
is a small Belgian breed of dog that
originated in the early 16th
century. There has been a long debate over whether this type of
dog is a terrier, spitz or miniature sheepdog.
1. Appearance
Schipperkes are most commonly all black, which is the only
accepted color for show dogs in the
United States and members of the Federation
Cynologique Internationale. However, other colors are accepted
in some countries. They have small and pointed ears that sit atop
the head. Schipperkes are also double
coated with a soft, fluffy undercoat that is covered by a harsher-feeling
outer coat. One of the breed
characteristics is a long ruff that surrounds the neck and then
trails down towards the rear of the dog. They usually do not weigh
more than 18 lbs. Schipperkes are NOT born without tails. In Canada
and the United States they are docked shortly after birth. Other
countries that have docking bans are finding their undocked
Schipperkes have tails that curve over the back of the dog in a
spitz-like fashion.
2. History
Schipperkes were first formed as a breed in the 1880s, their standard being written in 1889. Much of what is known of their origins and
early history comes from Chasse et Pêche (French for "Hunting and
Fishing") magazine, articles of which were translated into
English and published by the
English magazine The Stockkeeper.
The breed name of "Schipperke," officially taken in
1888, is traditionally thought to mean
"little captain". Beginning in the 1920s, however, it became popular in Belgium to
believe that the name was actually a corruption of the Flemish word
"Shapocke" or "Scheperke", meaning "little
shepherd". It has been suggested that the idea of "little
captain" was an invention of the English, who mistook the
Schipperke for a Dutch barge dog.
Before the name "Schipperke" was officially taken, the
breed was also known colloquially as "Spitzke". It is
thought that the name change was to distinguish it from the
German Spitz.
Correctly or not, Schipperkes are widely known as "Belgian
barge dogs." Some reports say they were found frequently as
working dogs aboard barges in the canals of Belgium, with three
jobs onboard: security (barking vigorously when anyone approached
the barge), keeping the barges free of vermin, and nipping at the
towing horses' heels to get them moving to tow the barge. To
this day, Schipperkes are known as excellent boat dogs and are
often found cruising the world aboard sailing yachts and
powerboats. They are not prone to seasickness.
"Schipperke" is actually Flemish for "little
captain". The English term Skipper for Captain is derived from
this Flemish word.
3. Temperament
A Schipperke is an all-around dog: it has strong herding,
hunting, and watching instincts. They are fearless and independent,
smart and willful. They are a high-energy dog with an intense
curiosity about everything and therefore require a great deal of
attention and stimulation. Consistent, positive training is a must
or life can become a contest of wills. Schipperkes, like many small
breeds, seem not to realize that they are small dogs and behave as
if they are much larger than they actually are. They are often
quoted as being a "90-pound dog in a 9-pound body." They
also have the nickname little nurse and can be quiet bedside
companions to a sick family member. If socialized as a young dog,
it also is very friendly to others. Another nickname for them is
Townhouse German Shepherd. On dog intelligence the Schipperke ranks
80 out of 80. They love to please their owner and are good for
obedience and agility training.
4. Health
The Schipperke has no particular health problems, and
individuals often reach the old age of 17 or 18 years. Nonetheless,
inactivity, lack of exercise and over-feeding are very harmful, and
can lead to joint and skeleton problems and heart, lung or
digestive conditions.
The one minor caveat to the Schipperke's good health is MPS
IIIB, a genetic mutation that occurs in at most 15% of the total
breed population. The University of Pennsylvania School of
Veterinary Medicine has developed a test for the disease and began
accepting samples in April 2003. Their website at http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/faq/mps3b.html
has more specifics. If you seek to acquire a Schipperke be sure to
ask the breeder if they have tested for the condition. A large
effort is underway by many responsible breeders to eliminate this
fatal and debilitating disease from the population.
5. Grooming
The Schipperke does not need expensive or excessive grooming,
however it should be known that this breed is a shedder. Regular
weekly brushing is usually enough to keep the black coat in good
condition. There is no need for cutting or trimming and the
mane fluffs up naturally.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
Taken or modified, in whole or part, from Wikipedia.org
