Schipperke - description of the breed and character of the dog

Schipperke is a Belgian miniature shepherd with a unique silhouette and character. She is black, small, but brave and faithful, she has a strong physique. Schipperke dog is from Belgium. According to various sources, in the distant 17th century, in Belgium, on the island of Saint - Jeri, these miniature dogs first appeared. There are many versions regarding their origin, and the topic of their origin is still controversial. According to one version, they descended from ancient breeds of black dogs. They were called leuvenares. Another hypothesis suggests that German Spitz were their ancestors.

Schipperke: characteristics of the breed on a 10-point scale

• mind and intellect: 8
• tenacity: 8
• watchdog properties: 9
• security qualities: 3
• Popularity: 5
• size: 2
• agility: 5
• learning ability: 9
• child compatibility: 10

Schipperke breed history

Many researchers tried to study the past of this dog, and they found ancient paintings depicting black dogs. They looked like a modern schipperke. Also, a Belgian dog handler in the 19th century wrote articles about shepherd dogs and indicated that these dogs come in different sizes. He wrote that the little ones were used mainly in the household, for protection, and they also hunted rats very well. And it was possible to find out that these dogs lived in Europe for a long time. In any case, the history of the breed is connected with the capital of Belgium, Brussels.

These beautiful, small dogs gained popularity in the late 19th century. In 1882 the first exhibition of these dogs opened, they then managed to attract great attention of the participants. After the exhibition, not only ordinary people fell in love with them - artisans and peasants, as well as the Queen of Belgium Henrietta. The Belgian queen became interested in them and acquired a dog Schipperke for herself. After that, these dogs were bred for aristocrats. Over time, the whole world learned about this breed and fell in love with them. They were first taken to the UK in 1887. And since 1888, they began to live in the United States.

Currently, they are very popular all over the world, they are bred in America, the UK, Austria, France and South Africa. Now these dogs are not used to catch mice and rodents, as these talents are no longer relevant. They usually participate in dog contests and live in homes guarding the owners.

Appearance and physique

The main difference between these dogs is their absolutely black color. By this color, they are easily distinguished from other breeds. By the external differences of these dogs are divided into European and American types.

1. In Europe, their tail usually does not stop.The American look differs in a skeleton from the European. Due to this, they seem formidable and have a "prickly" look. In the European type, the bones are thinner, the dogs have fine features.
2. They are small in size and cannot boast of luxurious wool.
3. The head of this dog resembles the head of a shepherd, it happens in the form of a wedge, but it is not too long and proportional to the body.
4. Their neck is muscular.
5. Representatives of the breed have small and triangular ears.
6. Schipperke eyes are small, almond-shaped, dark brown, mobile, have a lively look. Lips and nose are black.
7. They resemble Spitz in body shape, both have square shapes, a short and fairly wide body, and straight backs.
8. They have small paws, straight limbs.
9. The tail is usually docked, and if not docked, it can be raised and small. One story is told about the history of stopping. According to this legend, in 1609, one shoemaker was angry with a dog because he stole something from him. Therefore, he chopped off the tail of the dog. But after that, the appearance of the dog improved. From this began the custom of stopping the tail of the schipperke.
10. In these dogs, the coat is often thick, mostly black.
11. They have a height of about 33 cm, weight ranges from 3 to 9 kg.
12. They live on average up to 13-15 years. There is information that the oldest schipperke dog lived until the age of 17. This is the oldest age for the breed.

Dog character and training

This little fluffy dog ​​looks like a toy, but very energetic, funny, curious, brave. The dog is easy to learn and can be very attached to the owner, so it is difficult to endure the change of residence and owners. Schipperke is very curious, always examines moving objects with interest, he is interested in observing the closed door and will always try to get in there to find out what is there. Schipperke loves to live in a family; she is a kind and affectionate pet.

If he is brought up in a family, he will love children and will not let anyone else go to them. This dog is always suspicious of strangers and animals, but quickly finds friends. If Schipperke notices a stranger, then immediately begins to bark strongly. He loves active games and cannot stand loneliness.

If Schipperke lives at home, you constantly need to look after him, because of his curiosity, it is not always possible to find out where he is and what he does. This is a breed of very brave dogs. The dog actively guards its territory, loves its owner and can be an excellent watchman. With his loud bark, he is able to awaken anyone.

Schipperke dogs are very fond of water, if somewhere they see a plate or bath with water, or the lake, they cannot be stopped, they strive to go to this place with all their strength. These dogs have high intelligence, they need to be dealt with, they must feel their worth. If you do not pay attention to them, they themselves can find work: they can drag a child out from under the bed, or they will drag a bag of groceries into the kitchen, sometimes they can wake the owner better than an alarm clock. In short, Schipperke will not spin underfoot, he has more important concerns. But he will always be happy to play with the hosts.

When training, you can not shout at them, they do not like rude attitude, it is better to give them compliments and encourage them.

What teams should a dog schipperke know?

• Phew! Having heard this command, the dog must understand that he needs to stop.
• A place! It is necessary to teach a dog so that, upon hearing this word, he leaves for his place.
• To me! The dog needs to be trained so that he goes to the owner, having heard this command.

Hair care

Two-layer shipper hair: undercoat and outer hair. The hair of the hair is straight and they are perpendicular to the skin, therefore they do not require frequent care, as they always take their original position.They are subject to self-cleaning, the coat is very dense and stays clean for quite some time. Therefore, it will be enough to comb the dog three times a week. You need to comb them slowly, starting from the head, and move towards the tail. In addition, you do not have to bathe them often, they themselves are clean by nature and do not like a dirty puddle. It is enough to bathe them every three years, even less often, in the bathing process it does not matter - shampoos or other products are used. It doesn’t stink of dog, and this property allows you to keep them both in the apartment and next to the house.

The dog Schipperke always likes to run and play, so you need to walk the animal for a long time and it is important not only to walk with them, but also to run, jump and so on. Because daily running helps them keep fit. They also love to play with snow. In addition, they need to cut their nails, brush their ears, teeth and eyes.

The only inconvenient moment in their life is the period of molting. This process happens to them three times a year, each period lasts 10 days, and for these days their hair completely changes. After a period of molting, they have little hair for some time, but after 2 to 3 months, their hair acquires its former appearance.

Basically, Schipperke does not suffer from many diseases, they are a healthy breed.

What diseases are found in representatives of this breed?

1. Epilepsy. These diseases are congenital as well as acquired. As you know, this ailment cannot be completely cured so far, only certain drugs help the dog live a normal life.
2. Another disease found in these dogs is mucopolysaccharidosis. Mucopolysaccharidosis in them is hereditary, and this is a rather serious disease for this breed. About 15% of Schipperke dogs suffer from this disease. The main features are: lack of coordination and difficulty in moving. It is currently impossible to treat this disease, therefore, with the appearance of such signs, the dog is euthanized, since over time they cannot move, this torments them. For diagnosis, a genetic test is performed, and the DNA of the animal is analyzed. By conducting this test, you can reduce the risk of having sick dogs.
3. Perthes disease is also a serious disease, and it is not yet known why these animals suffer from this disease. Subsequently, this disease is destroyed and bones are deformed, but the disease can be cured, and the dog will be able to move normally.

Other diseases found in these dogs:

• hip dysplasia;
• retinal atrophy;
• cataract;
• hypothyroidism

The eyes of a dog of this breed usually begin to get sick at an older age. Such diseases can be detected in both one and two eyes. It is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner, because if the dog is not treated, his eyes can become completely blind.

Hypotheriosis in such dogs develops a connection with thyroid disorders. As you know, this iron is responsible for metabolism. Signs of the disease: weight loss and activity, general weakness, lethargy, infertility, dry skin, skin diseases, bleeding and more. Since hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease, endocrine systems are affected, and the fate of the dog may end with cancer. Parasites can also be the cause of the disease. For diagnosis, you need to carry out several tests. For treatment, the drug levothyroxine or lyiotironin is usually used. If you start the treatment process on time, the dog can be cured. The treatment process can last several months. And the restoration of the reproductive system can last up to a year.

To identify all ailments and health problems, dogs need to be examined regularly.

In addition, vaccination must be done in a timely manner. The first vaccination should be done when the puppy is 1.5 - 2 months old. The second vaccination should be done after about two months. Vaccination is important once a year.Such measures increase the resistance of dogs, and understand the immunity to various diseases, for example, to hepatitis, rabies, to the plague and beyond. In the process of vaccination, foreign and domestic drugs can be used, but you need to remember that foreign drugs support the immune system, and domestic ones produce special antibodies in order to fight diseases.

After the vaccination, you can not bathe the dog, it is not recommended to engage in active walks, change the daily diet and daily regimen of the dog.

How to feed these dogs?

Price and choice of dog

This breed is considered rare, so these dogs are quite expensive. In Russia and in other neighboring countries, it is difficult to acquire them, since this dog usually lives in Europe, mainly in Belgium. Therefore, in order to buy them, you will need to contact the European breeder. Puppies of this dog cost approximately 500 - 600 euros. According to the results of the exhibitions, you can see that American types are more popular.

What should I look for when choosing?

• information about parents;
• documents;
• appearance.

Key external indicators:

• eyes, ears and hair should be clean and well-groomed;
• movements must be sure, puppies should not limp.

It is necessary to pay attention to their tail, sometimes puppies at birth do not have a tail, and some representatives need to stop the tail. When buying, it is imperative to look at the color of the puppy - it must be completely black, shine and be without any color.

Video: Schipperke dog breed