Schipperke
A small black Belgian watchdog with a fox-like face, a stand-off ruff and boundless curiosity.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- Males 28–33 cm · Females 25–30 cm
- Weight
- Males 4–7 kg · Females 3–6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–15 years
- Exercise
- 45–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- Black
- Bred for
- Guarding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Belgium
- FCI
- Group 9, no. 83 · Companion & toy dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 4/5 – High |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want an active small dog with a sense of humour
- like a watchful dog that alerts you
- have a securely fenced garden
Think twice if you …
- need a quiet dog for thin-walled housing
- keep small pets like rodents
- expect instant obedience
Care
Temperament
Confident, alert and inquisitive, loyal to its family and reserved with strangers. It is a keen watchdog and can be headstrong.
Exercise
Needs daily walks plus play or puzzles; enjoys agility, scent games and exploring on hikes.
Grooming
Weekly brushing is enough most of the year, but the dense double coat sheds heavily once or twice a year.
Training
Smart but independent; short, varied, reward-based sessions work best, and recall needs ongoing practice.
Health
Generally a hardy breed; hip and knee problems, eye disease, hypothyroidism and the inherited storage disease MPS IIIB are known. Ask the breeder for screening and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Kneecaps (patella)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
DNA tests
- MPS IIIB
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Schipperke comes from Flanders, where it was kept by craftsmen and barge workers as a ratter and watchdog. It looks like a small spitz but is thought to share roots with the old Belgian sheepdogs, and it was shown as a breed in Belgium from the late nineteenth century.
At home it is busy, inquisitive and always on duty. It patrols, investigates noises and will let you know about anything unusual. Many are long-lived and stay active well into old age. A Schipperke suits someone who enjoys a lively, independent dog and can provide a secure garden, since its curiosity and hunting instincts can lead it to wander.
Did you know?
The name is usually explained as Flemish for little skipper, though some argue it means little shepherd.