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Welcome to my schipperke Page. I hope this page will help you find what you are looking for, when it comes to Schip's.  They are one of the best dogs in the world.  There are pictures below.

The schipperke Standard is what judges will judge the dogs by in the show ring, and it is what breeders go by when trying to breed for a better schipperke. If you are thinking about getting a schipperke., pet or show, you should read the standard. You should especially study it if you are looking for a show dog.

General Appearance

The schipperke is an agile, active watchdog and hunter of vermin. In appearance he is a small, thickset, cobby, black, tailless dog, with a foxlike face. The dog is square in profile and possessed of distinctive coat, which includes a stand out ruff, cape, and culottes. All of these create a unique silhouette, appearing to slope from the shoulders to croup. Males are decidedly masculine with coarseness. Bitches are decidedly feminine without overrefinement. Any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Faults may not be specifically mentioned in the standard.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
Size - The suggested height at the highest point of the withers is 11 - 13 inches for males and 10 - 12 for bitches. Quality should always take precedence over size. Proportion - Square in profile. Substance - Thickset

Head

Expression - The expression is questioning, mischievous, impudent, and alert, but never mean or wild. The well proportioned head, accompanied by correct eyes and ears, will give the dog the proper schipperke expression.
Skull - The skull is of medium width, narrowing toward the muzzle. Seen in profile with ears laid back, the skull is slightly rounded. The upper jaw is moderately filled in under the eyes, so that, when viewed from above, the head forms a wedge tapering smoothly from the back of the skull to the tip of the nose. The stop is definite, but not prominent. The length of the muzzle is slightly less than the length of the skull. Eyes - The eyes are small, oval rather than round, dark brown, and placed forward on the head. Ears - erect. A drop ear or ears is a disqualification. Nose - The nose is small and black. Bite - The bite must be scissors or level. Any deviation is to be severely penalized.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck - The neck is of moderate length, slightly arched, and in balanced with the rest of the dog to give correct silhouette. Topline - The topline is level or sloping slightly from the withers to croup. The stand-out ruff adds to the slope, making the dog seem slightly higher at the shoulders than at the rump. Body - The chest is broad and deep, and reaches to the elbows. The well sprung ribs (modified oval) are wide behind the shoulders between the front legs. The loin is short, muscular, and moderately drawn up. The croup is broad and well-rounded with the tail docked. No tail is visually discernible.

Forequarters

The shoulders are well laid back, with the legs extending straight down from the body when viewed from the front. From the side, legs are placed well under the body. Pasterns are short, thick, and strong, but still flexible, showing a slight angle when viewed from the side. Dewclaws are generally removed. Feet are small, round, and tight. Nails are short, strong, and black.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters appear slightly lighter than the forequarters, but are well muscled, and in balance with the front. The hocks are well let down and the stifles are well bent. Extreme angulation is to be penalized. From the rear, the legs extend straight down from the hip through the hock to the feet. Dewclaws must be removed.

Coat

Pattern - The adult coat is highly characteristic and must include several distinct lengths growing naturally in a specific pattern. The coat is short on the face, ears, front of the forelegs and on the hocks; it is medium length on the body, and longer on the ruff, cape, jabot, and culottes. The ruff begins in back of the ears and extends completely around the neck; the jabot extends across the chest and down between the front legs. The hair down the middle of the back, starting just behind the cape and continuing over the rump, lies flat. It is slightly shorter than the cape, but longer than the hair on the sides of the body and sides of the legs. The coat on the rear of the thighs forms culottes, which should be as long as the ruff. Lack of differentiation in coat lengths should be heavily penalized, as it is an essential breed characteristic.
Texture - The coat is abundant, straight and slightly harsh to the touch. The softer undercoat is dense and short on the body and is very dense around the neck, making the ruff stand out. Silky coats, body coats over three inches in length, or very harsh coats are equally incorrect. Trimming - As the schipperke is a natural breed, only trimming of the whiskers and the hair between the pads of the feet is optional. Any other trimming must not be done.

Color

The outercoat must be black. Any color other than a natural black is a disqualification. The undercoat, however, may be slightly lighter. During the shedding period, the coat may take on a transitory reddish cast, which is to be penalized to the degree that it detracts from the overall black appearance of the dog. Graying due to age (seven years or older) or occasional white hairs should not be penalized.

Gait

Proper schipperke movement is a smooth, well coordinated, and graceful trot (basically double tracking at a moderate speed) with a tendency to converge gradually toward the center of the balance beneath the dog as the speed increases. Front and rear must be in erect balance with good reach in the front and drive in the rear. The topline remains level or slightly sloping downward from the shoulders to the rump. Viewed from the front, the elbows remain close to the body. The legs form a straight line from the shoulders through the elbows to the toes, with the feet pointing straight ahead. From the rear, the legs form a straight line from the hips through the hocks to the pads, with the feet pointing straight ahead.

Temperament

The schipperke is curious, interested in everything around him, and is an excellent and faithful little watchdog. He is reserved with strangers and ready to protect his family and property if necessary. He displays a confident and independent personality, reflecting the breed's original purpose as a watchdog and hunter of vermin.

Questions

Do schipperkes have any inherited health problems?
Generally no, although epilepsy, thyroid deficiency and Legge-Perthes occasionally occur. They are one of the hardiest of small dogs. schipperkes are usually a long-lived dog for a small breed, with dogs of 12-15 years not uncommon.

Do they shed?

YES YES YES,,,  Bad - twice a year, after about two weeks of constant brushing you will get all of the hair out !!!

Have you ever heard of a Black Tornado? The schipperke is busy, curious, very active and inquisitive. They are high energy, not hyperactive. Equipment such as fences, leashes, crates and baby gates are standard requirements for the schipperke owner. Some schipperkes will stand on their hind legs, wave their front legs and "pattycake" when they want something. They are stubborn but smart, eager to please but independent.

Are they "yappy" little dogs?

No, but they are watchdogs and will bark when something out of the ordinary happens. Some of them are vocal enough to "talk" to you when they want something, but they don't bark without good reason.

Schippy Links

Schipperke Gifts
Rare Brown schipperke's
The schipperke Pages
Schipperke.com

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