How to Identify a Schipperke

Schipperkes are members of the non-sporting group. [1] Their Flemish name translates to "Little Captain" in English since they were known for doing various jobs on barges such as dealing with vermin and being a watchdog, and they also acted as a watchdog in some city shops of Brussels and Antwerp. [2] They have a few traits that are similar to other breeds, along with many distinguishing ones. This wikiHow will help you figure out if a dog is a Schipperke.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Looking at the Body Structure

  1. Schipperkes are relatively small dogs, with males being 11–13 inches (28–33 cm) tall, and females being 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) in height. Both male and female Schipperkes weigh somewhere between 10–16 pounds (4.5–7.3 kg). [3]
  2. Schipperkes should have a head that is proportioned well, and a skull that narrows towards the dog's muzzle and is medium in width. When the dog's ears are laying back and the skull is looked at from the profile, it should appear to be rounded slightly. [4]
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  3. Schipperkes have triangular-shaped ears that are small in size and set high on the dog's head. [5]
  4. Schipperkes should have oval-shaped eyes that are small in size, dark brown in color, and set forward on the dog's head. [6]
  5. Schipperkes typically have docked tails that are not visible. [7]
  6. Overall, Schipperkes should appear cobby and thickset with a square profile. Their gait should appear to be a smooth, graceful, well-coordinated trot. [8]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Viewing the Coat

  1. Though they may have an undercoat that is a little lighter in color, Schipperkes always have a black outercoat. [9]
    • During the dog's shedding season, however, the solid black coat may appear slightly reddish. [10]
  2. A Schipperke's outercoat should feel a little harsh to the touch, and the undercoat should have a dense, softer feel that is even more dense around the dog's neck. [11]
  3. Schipperkes, when they are an adult, should have a short coat on their ears, face, hocks, and on the front of their forelegs. The coat should be medium in length on the dog's body, and it is even longer in length on the culottes (which are on the rear of the thighs), cape, jabot, and ruff. The dog's ruff should start in the back of their ears and continue around their entire neck, with the cape forming another unique layer that goes beyond their ruff. You should also notice the jabot, which goes from the dog's chest to between their forelegs, along with hair that lies flat and runs down their middle back from behind the cape to over their rump. It should be longer than the hair found on the sides of the dog's legs and body but a little shorter than the cape. [12]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Checking Temperament

  1. Schipperkes are loving dogs who are devoted to their family. [13]
  2. Schipperkes are alert and typically are suspicious of any strangers. They may act territorial towards them or other dogs, so they are known to be good watchdogs. [14]
  3. Schipperkes are known to bark frequently, even sometimes for fun, so this dog breed typically needs consistent, patient training to help them curb the barking for entertainment. [15]
  4. Schipperkes are very active and need regular, daily exercise, through things such as a walk or games of fetch. [16]
  5. Schipperkes are curious dogs who will follow a scent if they find one. They may chase animals such as rodents or squirrels as well, so they will need to be kept on a leash when not in a fenced-in area. [17]
  6. Schipperkes are known to be very independent and sometimes stubborn, so they can sometimes be challenging to train. [18]
  7. In addition to independence, Schipperkes also have a lot of confidence and are known to be fearless as well. This may lead them to get into mischief, so this is something you'll want to be aware of. [19]
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      Tips

      • Consider dog DNA testing if you're wondering what breed your dog is. This will help confirm if your dog is a Schipperke.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schipperke/
      2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schipperke/
      3. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schipperke/
      4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      2. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Schipperke.pdf
      4. ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/schipperke#/slide/1
      5. ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/schipperke#/slide/1
      6. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/schipperke-dog/
      7. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/schipperke-dog/
      8. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/schipperke-dog/
      9. ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/schipperke#/slide/1
      10. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/schipperke-dog/

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