Schipperke
Overview
This Belgian Breed was first recognised in the 1880's and has remained a well loved pet ever since. Their name means "little shepherd" but they were mainly used to guard barges on the rivers while they owners were away. They are still often referred to as the Belgian Barge dog in the United States.
The Schipperke is a small dog with a thick black coat and a friendly nature. They stand between 10 inches and 1 foot 3 inches tall at the shoulder and a healthy adult dog weighs between 11 to 18 pounds. These dogs are highly curious and intelligent.
Temperament
These are extremely bubbly dogs with big personalities. They make excellent family pets and are highly adaptable to apartment living in the city. They have a protective nature and will always keep an eye on young children to ensure their safety.
Despite being very family orientated these dogs are not always so friendly with other dogs and it may take some time for them to get used to strangers being in the house.
The Schipperke responds very well to training and can be taught a wide range of tricks fairly easily. When training this breed responds best to praise, which is common among shepherds of all sizes and breeds.
Lifespan and Health
The lifespan of this breed is between 13 and 15 years.
Overall this breed is very healthy however the Schipperke can sometimes suffer from Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease which occurs in the hip joints and will lead to the hip joint ball being deformed. To treat this the dog will need rest, and usually surgery, but they normally recover back to good health.
Before buying a puppy be sure to check with the breeder if there is a history of this, or other conditions, in their family. Buying from a trusted breeder is always a good idea.
Shedding and Grooming
These friendly little companions have a thick double coat that keeps them warm even in the coldest weather. This does mean that they do have a tendency to shed some fur and will malt heavily twice a year.
You can manage this with a good brushing routine. These dogs really need a good brush at least once a week, but since they usually enjoy the attention of a grooming session, many owners brush more regularly which also keeps their shedding to a minimum. They are very adventurous little dogs and love to play in the park but if they get too muddy then they should have a good bath as well to stop their coat getting tangled.
Breed Information
| Popularity: | 2018: #110 2017: #110 2016: #112 2015: #109 |
| Origin: | Belgium |
| Breed Group: | Non Sporting (AKC:1904) Companion Breeds (UKC) |
| Size: | Small |
| Type: | Purebred |
| Life span: | 13-15 years |
| Temperament: | Agile Confident Curious Faithful Fearless Independent Intelligent |
| Height: | 10-13 inches (21-33 cm) |
| Weight: | 12-18 pounds (5.5-8 kg) |
| Colors: | Apricot Black Black & Tan Blue Brown Cream |
| Litter Size: | 3-7 puppies |
| Puppy Price: | Average $600 - $1000 USD |
Breed Characteristics
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Dog names
| Rank | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max | Bella |
| 2 | Teddy | Zoey |
| 3 | Milo | Penny |
| 4 | Dexter | Zoe |
| 5 | Gus | Lulu |
| 6 | Jax | Lady |
| 7 | Diesel | Maya |
| 8 | Ollie | Dixie |
| 9 | Hank | Belle |
| 10 | Rusty | Angel |
| 11 | Romeo | Dakota |
| 12 | Apollo | Charlie |
| 13 | Benny | Allie |
| 14 | Kobe | Grace |
| 15 | Brady | Penelope |