Schipperke

The Schipperke's character is arguably the most striking feature of this breed. Despite their modest size, they possess immense temperament, energy, and self-confidence. They are often called "little devils" due to their tireless activity, curiosity, and a certain audaciousness.

Key Character Traits of the Schipperke:

• Energetic and Agile: These are extremely active dogs that require regular, long walks and opportunities to burn off their energy. They are always ready for games and adventures.
• Inquisitive: Schipperkes are incredibly curious about everything happening around them. They need to "poke their nose" into every matter, exploring every corner. This curiosity makes them vigilant watchdogs.
• Vigilant and Protective Instinct: Despite their size, Schipperkes are superb guard dogs. They are very alert, quickly react to any unusual sounds or movements, and announce them with loud barking. Their protective instinct is well developed, and they will fearlessly defend their territory and family.
• Self-Confident and Independent: Schipperkes possess a strong will and a degree of independence. They are not unconditionally obedient and can show stubbornness, especially if they don't see the point in a command or are bored. This trait requires consistency and patience from the owner during training.
• Devotion and Affection to Family: Schipperkes become very strongly attached to their owners and strive to be full members of the family. They love spending time near people and participating in all family activities. Their loyalty is boundless.
• Attitude Towards Children: Schipperkes usually get along wonderfully with children, especially if they grew up with them or were properly socialised. They love to play and are patient companions for children's games. It's important that children respect the dog and don't mistreat it.
• Attitude Towards Other Animals: With other dogs, especially if they grew up together, Schipperkes usually get along well. However, their high hunting instinct can create problems with small household pets, such as rodents (ironically, given their origin) or even cats, if they haven't been properly introduced and socialised from an early age.
• Barking Tendency: Schipperkes are prone to barking. This is part of their watchdog nature. They bark to warn of potential danger or simply to express their excitement or joy. This can become a problem for neighbours, so controlling barking needs to be addressed during training.
• Inventiveness and Cunning: These dogs are very clever and learn quickly. They can use their intelligence both to perform commands and to get what they want, sometimes displaying considerable cunning.

The Schipperke is not a dog for a "couch potato" lifestyle. They need an active family ready to dedicate time, attention, and provide physical and mental stimulation. Without proper stimulation, they can become destructive or excessively barky. It's a breed that requires consistent upbringing and early socialisation for its bright character to shine through. With the right approach, the Schipperke becomes a wonderful, devoted, cheerful, and fearless companion.

Caring for a Schipperke is not overly complicated but requires regularity, especially concerning its coat and ensuring sufficient activity.

Coat Care: The Schipperke's unique coat, consisting of harsh guard hairs and a dense undercoat, provides excellent protection from all weathers. It also tends to stay relatively clean, not accumulating much dirt and not having a strong "doggy" odour with proper care.

• Regular Brushing: Basic care involves regular brushing to remove dead hairs and prevent matting, especially in the "ruff" and "breeches" areas where the fur is longer. Usually, brushing the dog once or twice a week with a slicker brush or a metal comb with fine teeth is sufficient.
• Shedding: Schipperkes shed seasonally, typically twice a year. During shedding, hair loss significantly increases, and the dog needs to be brushed daily, and sometimes twice a day, to help remove dead undercoat faster. Interestingly, male dogs usually shed less intensely than females.
• Bathing: Schipperkes should only be bathed when necessary, when the dog is genuinely dirty. Too frequent bathing can dry out the skin and damage the coat structure, stripping it of its natural protective oils. Use only specialised dog shampoos. Thanks to their dense undercoat, Schipperkes dry quite quickly.

Hygiene:

• Ear Care: Regularly check ears for dirt, excess wax, or signs of infection (redness, unpleasant odour). Clean ears using a specialised dog ear cleaning solution and a cotton pad or swab, avoiding deep penetration into the ear canal.
• Eye Care: Daily wipe the corners of the eyes with a damp cloth or cotton pad soaked in a special eye care solution or just clean water, to remove any discharge. Pay attention to excessive tearing or redness, which may indicate problems, such as distichiasis.
• Dental Care: Regular tooth brushing (ideally daily or several times a week) using special dog toothpaste and a brush will help prevent plaque and tartar build-up, as well as gum disease.
• Nail Trimming: Regularly check the length of the nails and trim them as they grow, usually every 2–4 weeks. Overly long nails can cause discomfort when walking and lead to paw problems. If you're unsure how to trim nails correctly, ask a vet or groomer to show you.

Activity: Schipperkes are extremely active and energetic dogs that require a significant amount of physical exercise daily. Despite their small size, they are not "lap dogs" and won't be satisfied with short strolls around the house.

• Daily Walks: A minimum of two long walks a day are essential, during which the dog will have the opportunity to run, play, and explore. Ideally, there should be an opportunity to safely let the dog run off-lead in a fenced area.
• Games and Training: Schipperkes love to play (fetch, tug-of-war) and engage in intellectual games. Regular training not only disciplines but also provides the necessary mental stimulation.
• Dog Sports: Due to their energy, agility, and intelligence, Schipperkes excel in various dog sports such as agility, obedience, flyball. This is an excellent way to channel their energy positively and strengthen the bond with their owner.

Remember that a bored Schipperke with unspent energy can become destructive in the home or bark excessively. Ensuring an adequate level of activity is key to a happy and well-behaved Schipperke.

Schipperkes are very intelligent, yet quite independent and cunning dogs. This makes their training process both exciting and demanding, requiring patience and consistency.

Early Socialisation: Socialisation is critically important for Schipperkes, starting from an early puppyhood (approximately 3–4 weeks, as soon as it's safe after the first vaccinations). It's essential to introduce the puppy to various people (men, women, children), other friendly dogs of different sizes and breeds, as well as other household pets, if possible. It's also important to familiarise them with different sounds, places, and situations (car rides, being in noisy places, walks in the park). A well-socialised Schipperke will be more confident and less timid or aggressive towards strangers and other animals.

Training: Schipperkes learn quickly, but their independent nature means they might decide that performing a command isn't interesting to them at a given moment. Therefore, key points in Schipperke training include:

• Consistency and Perseverance: Establish clear rules and always stick to them. Don't allow today what's forbidden tomorrow.
• Positive Reinforcement: Schipperkes respond wonderfully to positive reinforcement - praise, treats, and games. They strive to please their owner (when they want to!), and treats and attention are excellent motivators. Avoid harsh methods or punishments, as this can make the dog withdrawn or, conversely, more stubborn.
• Short and Engaging Sessions: Schipperkes quickly lose interest in monotonous repetitions. Keep training sessions short (5–10 minutes), fun, and varied.
• Early Start: Begin training basic commands and house-training and lead-training as early as possible, from 6–8 weeks. Puppies at this age are incredibly receptive.
• Barking Control: Due to their guarding nature, Schipperkes are prone to excessive barking. It's important to teach them the "quiet" or "enough" command from an early age. Teach them to bark when someone knocks on the door, but to stop barking on your command.
• Lead Training: Schipperkes have a strong hunting instinct and may chase small animals. Therefore, it's crucial to train them from an early age to walk calmly on the lead and not pull.

Thanks to their intelligence and energy, Schipperkes successfully compete in agility, flyball, and obedience competitions. This not only physically but also mentally stimulates the dog, strengthening the bond between it and its owner. Remember that Schipperkes need both physical and mental exercise to be happy and well-behaved. They are very attached to their owners and strive to spend time with them, so joint activities and training bring them great pleasure. Unlike some other breeds, such as the Schapendoes or the Tervuren, which were bred purely for herding work and have a stronger instinct for gathering and controlling, Schipperkes are more focused on guarding and rodent extermination. This influences their instincts and motivation during training.

Like any breed, the Schipperke has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at them to help potential owners make an informed choice.

Pros of Schipperkes:

• Excellent Companion for Active People: Ideally suited for those who lead an active lifestyle, love long walks, hikes, and dog sports.
• High Intelligence: Schipperkes are very intelligent and quick learners, which makes the training process interesting (though it requires the right approach).
• Strong Guarding Instinct: Despite their size, they are excellent watchdogs, always alert and warning of any suspicious activity.
• Family Devotion: They become strongly attached to their owners, love children very much, and strive to spend time with the family.
• Relatively Small Size: Convenient for keeping both in an apartment and a house, although they require plenty of outdoor exercise.
• Robust Health and Longevity: Generally, they have robust health and can live a long life (12–18 years) with proper care.
• Low Coat Maintenance Requirements (except during shedding): The coat does not require complex grooming; regular brushing is sufficient.
• Don't Have a Strong "Doggy" Odour: The coat remains clean and doesn't have a sharp smell.

Cons of Schipperkes:

• High Energy Level: Require a significant amount of physical and mental exercise. Without it, they can become destructive or excessively barky. Not suitable for people unwilling to dedicate much time to walks and games.
• Tendency to Bark: Their guarding nature manifests in a tendency to bark, which can be a problem for neighbours or those who value quiet. Requires correction during training.
• Independence and Stubbornness: May display independence and stubbornness, requiring patience, consistency, and experience in training from the owner. Not the best choice for inexperienced owners.
• Strong Hunting Instinct: Prone to chasing small animals, requiring caution during off-lead walks.
• Need for Early Socialisation: Without proper socialisation, they can be suspicious or even aggressive towards strangers and other dogs.
• Tendency to Gain Excess Weight: Strict control over diet and food quantity is necessary.

Schipperkes are a wonderful breed for the right people. They demand time, energy, and consistency, but in return, they offer boundless loyalty, fun, and reliable protection. Before getting a Schipperke, honestly assess your lifestyle and readiness to dedicate enough attention to this active and intelligent dog.