Schipperke

History of the Schipperke breed

Pointed miniature ears and spectacular clouds of wool around the neck and hips allow you to suspect relatives of spitz in the shipperke. At the same time, dog handlers assure that representatives of both families do not have common genes and have never had. The closest ancestors of miniature "Flemings" are belgian shepherds and leuvenars are an extinct breed of small black dogs, bred in the XV century on the territory of the province of Brabant.

Thanks to their outstanding mousetrapping abilities, Schipperke had already become famous by the XVII century and become popular pets among the Belgians. The harsh reality forced the townspeople to keep dogs capable of repelling rodents: during the Senna flood, hordes of rats attacked the houses and food supplies of residents. Brussels artisans and sailors especially respected little shepherds, so representatives of this brave family could be found with equal success in a rundown tavern and on a river barge.

Schipperke started traveling to exhibitions in 1882, after which Queen Henrietta Maria became interested in animals. Charmed by the modest charm of the blackies, the Belgian ruler acquired a "Flemish" puppy for herself, which prompted the local nobility to acquire exactly the same pets. But the breed managed to penetrate abroad only five years after the official exhibition. So the descendants of the Leuvenars learned first in England, and then in the USA.

In 1888, the Belgian Schipperke breeding club began its activity, and the breed finally received a separate standard of appearance. However, the uniformity of the exterior of the sheepdogs was still far away, so at first the breeders differentiated individuals from Brussels, Antwerp and Louvain. In Russia, the breeding of shipperke was taken up relatively recently. For example, in the early 2000s, it was possible to meet representatives of this breed except from breeding specialists, and there was no question of buying a puppy without contacting foreign kennels. By the way, most of today's Russian shipperke traces their pedigrees from American manufacturers, which are somewhat heavier and more massive than their Belgian relatives.

Video: Schipperke

Schipperke breed standard

The exterior of the schipperke directly depends on the geography of breeding. In the exhibition rings, preference is more often given to offspring from the USA, although formally the American and European branches are recognized as equivalent. Overseas shepherds have an accentuated textured appearance and more impressive dimensions, giving them a pleasant impressiveness, if the latter term is generally used in relation to tiny shipperke. In addition, the "Americans" have richer and thicker dog meat, more massive hips and head, and a more serious look.

The European livestock is closer to the historical type of shipperke, which means it looks smaller, has a lighter backbone and a friendlier expression of the muzzle. In addition, representatives of European lines are less susceptible to genetic diseases and less likely to suffer from mucopolysaccharidosis. The reference schipperke weighs from 3 to 9 kg, and the last figure is relevant for animals from American lines. The weight of individuals from European countries usually ranges from 4-6 kilograms, while there are no strict requirements for the growth of the animal.

Head

Harmoniously developed, wedge-shaped type, but not of excessive length with moderately protruding cheekbones and brow arches. Schipperke's forehead is wide and rounded. The stop is clearly drawn, but not cool, the cheekbones smoothly flow into the nasal part. The length of the animal's muzzle is approximately 40% of the length of its head.

Teeth, jaws, lips

Ideally, if the dog's jaws close in a classic scissor bite, while individuals with a straight bow are not considered defective. Schipperke's teeth are strong, tightly located in the jaw row. The presence of a complete set of teeth is preferable, although the absence of the first and second premolars, as well as the third molars is acceptable. The lips of the animal have a uniform black color and fit snugly to the jaws.

Nose

Schipperke should have a small, neat nose with a jet-black lobe.

Eyes

It is desirable that the dog's eyes are not convex and deep-set. The eyelids should be painted in a rich black tone and have an almond-shaped incision. The iris of the schipperke is an expressive dark brown shade, the look is mischievous and a little impatient.

Ears

The miniature movable ears of the schipperke resemble neat triangles in shape. The tip of the ear cloth is pointed, and the cartilage of the base is held straight, which makes the appearance of the pet slightly wary. The ears are set high, but at the same time they are quite far from each other.

Neck

Slightly curved at the top, the strong and high-set neck of the shepherd has a developed musculature, giving the silhouette additional volume. The lagging thick wool covers the neck with an elegant fluffy collar, so the front of the shipperke looks like representatives of the spitz group.

Housing

The short, stocky body fits perfectly into the shape of a square, while the silhouette of the shepherd is completely devoid of bulkiness and massiveness. The back and loin of the animal are straight, slightly raised in the area between the withers and the croup. The withers are embossed due to voluminous muscles and fluffy fur, rounded croup and good width. Lowered to the elbows, a spacious chest and a smooth bottom line with a moderately selected belly are also mandatory characteristics of the appearance of a purebred individual.

Limbs

Perfectly parallel to each other, with long shoulder blades, strong elbows and short pasterns – this is how the front legs of a proper shipperke should look. The hind limbs of the Shepherd are placed flat and under the body, and also have long hips and shins, well-marked hocks and short metatarsals. The dog moves at a regular trot: with a springy push of the hind legs and a free sweep of the forelimbs.

Tail

Schipperke puppies are born with tails of normal length, and with short appendages, or even without them at all. At the same time, all three varieties are equal in rights. Full–fledged tails of dogs have a classic length - at the level of the hocks. In motion, this part of the body is raised, but not above the back line. In addition, the tail should not twist and fit on the lower back or croup. Previously, shipperke's tails were supposed to be stopped, but nowadays the procedure is prohibited.

Wool

The sheepdog's coat is straight and thick, consisting of a coarse, abundant awn and a delicate undercoat. The most pubescent areas of the body are the neck and hips. In the area of the ears, head, metatarsals, hock joints and the frontal part of the legs, the hair is short. The body and tail of the animal are covered with a well-fitting coat of moderate length.

Color

The breed standard accepts only individuals of black color, and a grayish undercoat is acceptable, provided that it is not visible under a thick layer of dog fur. Less often you can find shipperke in golden, cream, chocolate and black-and-tan "fur coats". Owners of any wool, except black, are prohibited from participating in exhibition events, but any nursery has the right to breed them for home maintenance.

Disqualifying vices

Like any dog, a schipperke may have minor exterior defects, as well as serious flaws that prevent him from claiming a high exhibition score. There is also the possibility of major flaws that call into question the pedigree. In such cases, the pet receives a complete disqualification and is deprived of the right to enter the ring. Usually such a nuisance occurs with individuals with malocclusion (overbite / underbite), semi-erect or hanging ears, soft and excessively long hair.

If the schipperke has a depigmented lobe, the weight exceeds the norm or falls short of the standard–stipulated bar - these are sufficient reasons to limit the animal's admission to exhibitions. The misalignment of the jaws, the absence of four or more teeth and such units of dental formula as 1C, 1PM4, 1M1, 1M2, 1PM3 and PM4 will be recorded by the evaluation commission as disqualifying defects.

Photos of adult schipperke

The character of schipperke

The tender appearance of the schipperke is a deceptive disguise, under which a full–fledged shepherd dog with all its ambitions and complexities of character hides. By nature, Schipperke is an indefatigable researcher, who is vitally important to have time everywhere, and if possible also to involve others in his intrigues. This tiny "Belgian" will not lie on the sofas waiting for the next meal or sadly roll a ball with his paw, but will do everything possible to spoil the life of any domesticated rodent and fight with an unfamiliar shepherd dog for a stick or a bone.

Schipperke behave carefully and moderately good-naturedly with children, but they do not experience true delight in the process of communicating with the younger generation and certainly will never sign up for the role of a babysitter and animator. As befits purebred sheepdogs, dogs look at strangers with great discontent and suspicion. Well, if they had the audacity to step on the threshold of the house where the shipperke lives, get ready for funny attacks and threatening barking, warning the owner about the onset of "enemy forces".

The pet may also have friction with fellow tribesmen, although in general the "Belgians" are not so jealous and are ready to tolerate the same four-legged energizer next to them. The only caveat: keeping a couple of same-sex shipperke on the same territory, it is worth accepting the inevitability of competition between animals. The rivalry will be expressed in a funny struggle, grumbling and biting the enemy for vulnerabilities, although it usually does not come to a real war.

Another distinctive feature of the breed is a sense of possessiveness, often turning into uncontrollable greed. Schipperke does not agree to share his belongings, and especially food, with anyone. Sometimes the rule also applies to things that are completely unnecessary for the dog. In particular, a delicacy that was not to taste, the shepherd will still vigilantly guard against the encroachments of a cat or other animals. Walking down the street with a found rag in his teeth and not letting go of the find even during trips to the toilet shipperke is also a common thing. Moreover, most of the street finds the animal tries to carry into the house and safely hide somewhere behind a sofa or armchair.

Otherwise, the little "Flemings" are friendly and cheerful dogs who adore any adventures if a person participates in them. At the same time, the breed endures the change of owner hard and painfully, so it is more expedient to acquire a shipperke for responsible people who are not used to succumb to the difficulties that sometimes accompany the training and maintenance of a shepherd dog.

Education and training

Schipperke – dogs of accelerated development. Forget about the period of habituation and adaptation "holidays" – it is necessary to correct the behavior of the puppy from the very moment when he was outside the kennel. Breeders joke that the schipperke is a breed that needs to be brought up "yesterday", although this does not mean that representatives of this family are untrained in principle. On the contrary, "Belgians" are smart and inquisitive pets, so a two–month-old puppy is fully ready to learn the basics of training.

It is important to understand that this type of shepherd dog is not able to concentrate on one type of activity for a long time, so the training sessions will have to be "cut" into five-minute lessons. The innate suspicion of the breed also prevents you from focusing on your studies. Any extraneous rustle or smell for shipperke is an excuse to interrupt training and rush to search for the source of sounds and aromas.

Do not be touched by the "dwarf" dimensions of the animal and do not delegate its upbringing to children or teenagers. With all the loyalty towards children, the shepherd will never recognize their superiority and, therefore, will not obey them. A savvy "Flemish" needs an adult and extremely serious owner who does not allow himself to be manipulated and is not led by the tricks and tricks of a four-legged ward. Owners for whom the schipperke is the first dog in life, it is better to delegate the upbringing and primary training of the pet to a professional dog handler. Remember, this type of shepherd dogs is practically not retrained, so the gaps in education once made cannot be corrected.

Schipperke's ringing warning bark is his breed feature. However, the shepherd does not always express important information with his voice. Sometimes the "Belgian" is happy to bark at a stray mouse behind the wall or a butterfly flying around the house. It is quite possible to make the dog less talkative, and you will not have to invent special techniques. Just stop soothing and stroking the puppy on the head when he once again barks at an invisible creature. Or better yet, demonstrate a complete lack of interest in audio signals. Thus, you will make it clear to the pet that the phenomenon that attracted his attention is not interesting to anyone and does not pose a tangible threat.

Useful to know: schipperke are classic "foodies", that is, dogs that perfectly work out commands when a treat looms in front of their noses. This is a quality that is quite convenient for the owner, because with the help of food, it is easy to persuade a shipperke, stimulate to a certain action or even calm down.

Maintenance and care

Historically, shipperki were not decorative pets: they were not allowed to spend the night in the house, they were fed with what would remain, and they also expected useful watchdog and "mousetrap" activities from shepherds. As a result: today's representatives of the breed do not need specific care and do not shake from the cold at subzero temperatures. Moreover, in the summer and in the off-season, the "Belgians" feel good in booths and aviaries, although they will not refuse to lie on a rug in the hallway or bedroom if they have a chance. With the onset of the first frost, the animal must be moved into the house, but this does not mean that Schipperke dreams of living at the battery. At room temperature, sheepdogs feel quite comfortable, and they absolutely do not need excessive "heating" near the air conditioner and heating appliances.

The breed is not afraid of bad weather. The thick, dense coat of the dog has water- and dirt-repellent qualities, so if the pet managed to get wet on a walk, there is no tragedy in this. Let the shepherd dry naturally and do not rush around her with a towel and a hairdryer – from the rain "shower" Shipperke will definitely not get sick. But puppies who have just arrived from the kennel and have not had time to undergo mandatory vaccination, it is better not to let them out of the house or apartment before receiving vaccinations, if you do not want to take the ward to veterinary clinics later.

A useful purchase for a tiny fidget is a room aviary–a cage where it is convenient to put a pet if the owner plans to leave. Due to their natural curiosity and restlessness, the Schipperke kids are quite destructive creatures whose ardor needs to be restrained. Of course, sitting in a cage should not last for hours, so that the shepherd does not perceive it as a punishment and does not feel a quiet hatred for the aviary.

Walking and physical activity

In a day, the average schipperke is able to "wind" more than ten kilometers, and all this without the slightest damage to his own health. Get ready to walk your pet at least twice a day, approaching the process of organizing promenades with imagination. For example, ride a bike with a shipperke leash attached to the side (not to be confused with such rides with bikejoring, where the dog pulls the bike behind him). Or practice on vacant lots in sports disciplines such as dog frisbee.

It is permissible to drive a shipperke through city streets on a leash. The "Flemings" are easily carried away by extraneous phenomena, but they run fast, so a shepherd dog released "into the wild" will have to be caught for a long time. In fenced areas, the pet can be released from the leash, but only if you are completely sure that there are no holes in the fence into which the four-legged creature can leak.

Hygiene

Schipperke are clean dogs that need minimal care. Representatives of this breed do not need any trimming, haircuts, or frequent combing. For areas with long hair, you should get a comb-rake and a comb made of bristles. In order for the pet to acquire a neat, well-groomed appearance, it is enough to comb his "fur coat" only a couple of times a week. Sheepdogs shed according to the season, but the frequency of the phenomenon directly depends on the gender. With males, this happens once a year, bitches shed every six months. In addition, the coat of the "girls" is renewed after each birth.

The molt of the breed is abundant, but short-term, but after its completion, the shipperke practically does not lose its wool, which means it does not irritate the owner with hair bundles stuck to furniture upholstery and carpets. It is necessary to bathe the shepherd dog if necessary and with a minimum amount of shampoo, so as not to wash off the protective grease from the wool. If the dog does not get dirty and is neat in everyday life, it is better to arrange hygienic procedures for her once a month, or even less often. Moreover, this rule does not work with respect to show individuals: exhibition "stars" are washed every two weeks.

Once a week, shipperke needs to clean her ears with a damp cloth or a cotton pad soaked in a disinfecting hygienic lotion such as Beaphar Ear Cleaner or Doctor Vic. With the same frequency, the sheepdogs wipe the mucous membrane of the eyelid. It is better to do this with a lint–free cloth soaked in chamomile broth - the procedure is considered an excellent prevention of acidification of the eyes. Three times a week, the pet is supposed to clean the mouth and teeth with veterinary paste, which can be applied to a regular baby brush or a hygienic nozzle on the finger (sold in pet stores). At the same time, it is permissible to carry out hygienic procedures less often, as contamination occurs, due to the unpretentiousness of the breed representatives.

Shipperke paws need care no less than ears and eyes. After walking, it is recommended to wipe the pads of the paws of the apartment individuals with a damp towel, and in winter also treat them with a nourishing cream ("Let's go for a walk!", "Pchelodar"). The cream will reduce the harmful effects on the skin of reagents that are sprinkled on roads in the ice. Cutting claws is also a necessary procedure, especially for shepherds with limited mobility. Usually, a lot of actively walking dogs have a claw plate worn off naturally, but since most of today's shipperke lives in houses and apartments and goes for walks strictly on schedule, the owner will have to work on a dog "pedicure".

The claws are cut once a month with special wire cutters (ordinary scissors will not work). Shipperke does not like this process, so it is better to teach them to the need for a "pedicure" from a puppy age. Another important point: injury to the blood vessel in the claw. Ideally, it is better to act extremely carefully and remove only the upper tip of the keratinized tissue, but if there were no cuts, this is not a reason to stop cutting claws at all. Just treat the cut site with chlorhexidine and cotton wool and be more careful next time.

Feeding

Disputes about the benefits of natural food and industrial feed among shipperke breeders continue to be conducted, so the choice of the type of food for the dog remains a matter of personal preferences of the owner. It is worth noting that each type of feeding has both its disadvantages and advantages, but in general both of them have the right to exist. For example, high-quality "drying" is optimally balanced, so you do not have to buy additional vitamin supplements to make the pet feel cheerful and healthy.

Natural food is good because it does not need to be "selected" for the digestion of a particular dog, as it happens with dry food, but buying and thermal preparation of products takes time. In addition, individuals who eat "straight" will have to periodically include purchased mineral complexes in the menu.

The daily diet of schipperke should not exceed 5% of body weight. It is optimal if 60% of the daily volume of dog food is animal protein, namely: lean meat, fish fillets, offal. Porridge and vegetable supplements account for 20% each. For puppies under 6 months of age, porridge is boiled in milk, for grown-up individuals, cereals (rice, buckwheat, oatmeal) are steamed with boiling water.

Shipperke meat is cut into small pieces, scalded, but not turned into minced meat, because the nutritional value in finely chopped protein is lost. Vegetables (broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini) are more useful to give raw, but for better assimilation it is better to punch them with a blender or plan on the smallest grater. Boiled egg and raw egg yolk are also considered good top dressing, as well as fermented milk products, the fat content of which does not exceed 3-4%.

An important nuance is the monotony of the diet. Do not think that Schipperke, as a person, is bored with the standard menu, and that his soul craves gastronomic exoticism. On the contrary: dogs whose breakfasts and dinners are repeated day after day do not have eating disorders and digestive tract problems.

How many times to feed a shipperke:

• up to 2 months – 6 times a day;
• from 2 to 4 months – 5 times a day;
• from 4 to 6 months – 4 feedings per day;
• from 6 to 8 months – 3 times a day;
• from 9 months – 2 times, morning and evening.

Schipperke's health and Diseases

Health problems in the smallest shepherds do not occur so often. Usually, such ailments as hypothyroidism, dislocation of the patella, allergies and Perthes' disease become the reason to turn to the veterinarian. Another unpleasant hereditary disease inherent in the breed is mucopolysaccharidosis of the third B-type. Pathology is not treated, and makes itself felt relatively late – in individuals aged two to four years.

The cause of mucopolysaccharidosis is a genetic mutation passing from producers to offspring, so it is important to conduct DNA testing of breeding animals before binding. By the way, if you got a puppy with an "error" in the genetic code, this is not a reason to get upset. Individuals diagnosed with "courier MPS IIIB" are only carriers of the mutation, while they themselves do not suffer from mucopolysaccharidosis. Of course, it is strictly forbidden to breed shipperke with MPS, but otherwise they have the same right to become pets as healthy shepherds.

How to choose a puppy

• Find out whether the bitches and males whose offspring are for sale have been tested for mucopolysaccharidosis and other hereditary ailments.
• As the Schipperke breed becomes more and more popular, "nurseries" began to appear, interested only in money and not guaranteeing either the purity of the breed or the health of the wards. Before buying, be sure to read the reviews, inspect the puppies and their conditions personally. Ask the seller for pedigrees of litter producers and study them.
• Pay attention to the general appearance of the puppies: how neat, well-fed and active they are.
• Never reserve puppies by photo. Thus, you will not see their breed defects and will not learn anything about behavioral features.
• If you are offered babies with tails of natural length, gently probe this part of the body. The tail should be smooth, without creases and thickenings.
• Pay attention to the color of the pads of the shipperke paws. In puppies with pads of a light shade, the undercoat will have a grayish color, in owners of dark paws, the undercoat tone will be black.
• Schipperke puppies with a brownish sheen of wool can not be rejected. As they grow older, the brown tone disappears, and the animals acquire a coal-black color.

Photos of schipperke puppies

Shipperke price

You can buy a schipperke puppy in the kennel for $500 – $700. Less often there are more pleasant options in terms of price, but usually teenage dogs are offered at a reduced cost, which may be more difficult to raise, as well as unsuccessful offspring in terms of health and appearance. Often puppies are sold by single breeders who do not have their own kennel, who can be both professionals in their field and amateurs knitting animals for the purpose of enrichment. In the second case, the prices on the shipperke will be seductively low – from $150, but the seller is unlikely to be able to guarantee the pureblood of the litter and its testing for hereditary diseases.