Schipperke
Schipperke
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. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 668 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1830 × 1642 pixel, file size: 3. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This Chihuahua mix and Great Dane show the wide range of dog breed sizes. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier The terrier is a group of dog breeds initially bred for hunting and killing vermin. ... Spitz-type breeds of dog (the correct German plural is Spitze, though Spitzen is commonly used in the United States) are characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles. ... A Sheep dog is a type of domestic dog whose original purpose was to herd or guard sheep. ...

Appearance

Schipperkes are most commonly all black, which is the only accepted color for show dogs in the United States and members of the Fédération 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 and their tails are sometimes docked shortly after birth. Most schipperkes, however, are born with little to no tail and are not docked at birth. An American Cocker Spaniel show dog with its ears wrapped in preparation for showing A show dog is a purebred dog that is displayed at conformation dog shows to determine how well it conforms to established breed standards. ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... A dogs coat is its fur. ... Undercoat can refer to: The down hairs in a mammals fur A layer of paint beneath the main painted surface This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Guard hairs are the longest, thickest hairs in a mammals coat, forming the topcoat (or outer coat). ... Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ...

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. // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

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. Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Flemish (Vlaams in Dutch), as the general adjective relating to Flanders, can refer to the speech of the Flemings, inhabitants of Flanders, though for the Flemish Community[1], Algemeen Nederlands (Common Dutch) is the official name of the standard language hence in English referred to as standard Dutch. ...

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. The German Spitz is a dog breed or group of dog breeds of the Spitz type. ...

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 a Dutch word; "schipper" (pronounced with the throat-clearing sound of the typical Dutch "hard g") means skipper (not captain, which is "kapitein"). Adding "-ke" (or "-je") to pretty much any Dutch noun means it's a smaller version, or is used as a term of endearment.

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 often act as though they are high in authority in whatever society they live. 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.

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.

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. Look up mane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Schipperke

• Breed clubs
  • Schipperke Club of Canada
  • The Schipperke Club
  • Schipperke Club of America

 The Schipperke Club of South Africa email:sskart@mweb.co.za 

• Information
  • Information about the Schipperke
  • General care and information about the Schipperke
  • Le site Web du Schipperke