Schipperke

The Schipperke is a small, square, stocky dog that was originally developed in Belgium as a watchdog and hunter of vermin. The breed was used particularly on the ships and barges of Belgium; it was also occasionally used on farms to herd smaller livestock. It was said traditionally to be fond of horses, and at one time came to be a favorite small dog of ladies of the upper class. This breed is a very old one, thought to have reached its modern form of development in the 16th century. The Schipperke was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904. This breed has a long, harsh coat with a large mane around the upper chest and neck; this feature, combined with prick ears, give it the appearance of having a sharp slope from shoulders to croup, although this is an illusion. The coat also grows longer on the back legs: this is known as "culottes"�. The color of the dog is most commonly black, and that is in fact the only color accepted by the American Kennel Club, because it is believed to be the original color of the breed. However, other registry clubs accept fawn or tan as well. The color is always solid. The puppies are born with tails of various lengths. The longer of the Schipperkes' tails are generally docked in the U.S. and Canada (to the point of a tail-less appearance), but the tail is left undocked in Europe. When long enough, it tends to be carried high and curled over the back. The dewclaws are commonly removed on the Schipperke. The Schipperke is described as having a "fox-like"� face, with a keen, curious and often mischievous expression. It is active and energetic, and although a prankster, should never possess a mean streak. Individuals of this breed frequently live to be 17 or 18 years of age.The Schipperke stands ten to thirteen inches tall at the shoulder. The word "Schipperke"� is of disputed origin: one school of thought holds that it is a corruption of the old Dutch word "Scheperke"� which means "shepherd"�. The other holds that the word "schipperke"� comes from the Flemish "schippe"� meaning "boat"� thus the "schipperke"� was a "little boat captain"�. There is also some disagreement as to whether the breed originated from the northern Spitz type, or is rather a smaller version of the Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) or of a larger black sheepdog called the Leauvenaar. Regardless of the true origins, it may well be the breed for which the first official show was held, in 1690 when a guild of royal workmen in Brussels held a show to exhibit their watchdogs. At one time the Schipperke was a common sight aboard the merchant barges on the rivers of Belgium, and even on sea bound ships. It is still sometimes called a "Belgian barge dog"� or "Belgian ship dog"�. It was also used by land-bound merchants to guard their wares at night; legend has it that once all Schipperkes had long tails, but then a shoemaker who was repeatedly angered by his neighbor's thieving Schipperke finally caught the dog and cut off its tail, thereby dooming the breed to become tail-less through succeeding generations. The breed was known as the "Spitske"� for generations; the name "Schipperke"� was officially adopted only in 1888. It was prized as a hunter of rodents and as a watchdog to warn sailors of thieves at night. Even today it is still seen about merchant vessels performing its traditional roles. The first breed-specific club was formed in Belgium in 1888. In that same year, the first Schipperke was imported into the United States. An early breed club was begun in the U.S. in 1905, but fizzled out a decade later. In 1929 the still-surviving Schipperke Club of America (SCA) was founded to promote the breed. The Schipperke is generally very healthy and free of genetic conditions; longevity is the norm. However, a rare genetic mutation known as MPS-IIIB appears occasionally in the breed. A test for the disease was recently developed, and the veterinary school of the University of Pennsylvania began accepting independent samples for testing in 2003. Prospective owners of the breed should ask the breeder if their stock has been tested. Aside from the MPS-IIIB condition, the only common disorder in the Schipperke is obesity, which frequently leads to digestive problems, heart disease, lung disorders, and diabetes. The owner should therefore take care not to over feed this breed. The Sckipperke's double coat must be brushed weekly to keep it in healthy condition, remove dead hair, and protect the skin from disease. Although much of the time Sckipperke is a medium shedder, it will shed heavily a few times a year when the undercoat is lost. During these times, many owners find it easier to remove the undercoat layer with a warm bath or two, rather than through several days of brushing and shedding. In very warm climates, the undercoat may disappear altogether.This breed is active and energetic, even indoors. It does well with a good walk daily. Because it is intelligent, lack of exercise may lead to destructive behavior. The Schipperke is independent and strong-willed, and requires a dog-savvy, strong leader in its handler. The Schipperke bonds strongly with its human pack, and is intensely loyal to its family. It is also intensely protective, and will even attack an intruder, despite its size. It is naturally suspicious of strangers and should be slowly introduced to visitors. Due to its history as a watchdog, this breed is a natural barker, and must be taught early to stop barking when told. Bored individuals can easily become obsessive barkers. The Schipperke usually gets along well with other dogs. It can live successfully with cats if raised with them. Smaller mammals can trigger its hunting instinct and should be introduced only with great caution. This breed is well-known for its fondness for children. It requires attention and interaction from its owners, and likes to be involved in all family activity. It is a friendly, fun-loving family companion. The Schipperke does well in obedience trials, and in agility.

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