Description of the Schipperke breed: character of the animal, photo

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today we are interested in the description of the Schipperke breed. We will also talk about the nature of its representatives. The topic of maintenance and care will be touched upon a little.

A dog is a friend and helper

The dog is the first animal in history that man could tame. According to scientists, this happened about fourteen thousand years ago. Since then, dogs have lived with us. They were once used for hunting. They were also excellent watchmen and shepherds. It is a well-known fact that even during the conquest of space, the role of the dog was far from being the last one.

More and more people prefer to have such a smart, loyal and devoted friend as a dog next to them. And this is good. By the way, psychologists have long been saying that such pets have a beneficial effect on the well-being of the owner and the overall situation in the house. It remains only to choose the breed that would be to your liking. Let's take a closer look at one of them. Now we will present a description of the Schipperke breed.

Origin of the breed

Schipperke is native to Belgium. The breed is almost two hundred years old. However, its origin is still not exactly known. Some believe that the Schipperke breed is the result ofcrossbreeding a spitz with a terrier.

Others say that this is a type of Spitz. Representatives of this breed took part in the first dog show, held in 1880 in Brussels.

Appearance

Schipperke is a miniature dog. The sources of the 19th century say that such dogs guarded pastures, houses, farms, and also hunted rats and mice. Outwardly, Schipperke resemble Spitz - the same rectangular body format, taut bottom, strong back. This dog has small, pointed, erect ears, almond-shaped eyes, usually dark brown, and a sheepdog-like muzzle. Continuing to draw up an external description of the Schipperke breed, one cannot help but talk about the tail. It can be curled on the back.

But still preference is given to hanging. By the way, once the tails were docked. But now the standards have changed.

Schipperke are exclusively black. Wool is hard, thick. In the neck area forms a collar on the dog. There is also a mane and "pants" in Schipperke. The breed standard implies that the weight of an adult should be 5-9 kg.

Schipperke: breed description, character

Curious, energetic and fun. They are always on the move, eager to explore unfamiliar places. These cute fidgets need frequent and long walks to release their energy. Otherwise, they will arrange "races" at home. Schipperke loves to travel by car and withlooking around with curiosity. They are very playful and tireless. Only occasionally can you enjoy a sleeping woolen ball on your arms or sofa. According to the owners of this breed, Schipperke are similar in character to shepherd dogs - they are easy to train, they quickly learn good manners. And then professionals warn: you should not allow a person to be excessively soft with representatives of this breed. Since they will begin to dominate and show aggression both to other pets and people, and to the owner. An improperly brought up Schipperke will constantly fight for the place of the "master" in the house.

In this regard, this breed is not recommended for beginners. The main task of the owner in the upbringing of the dog is not to encourage his "cute pranks" and to be quite strict with him. But you should not, of course, be aggressive with the dog. Education should be clear and persistent, but carried out through the game. If a person does not have enough time or knowledge for training, then an experienced instructor can become an assistant. Properly raised Schipperke get along with all family members and become attached to people. These dogs are infinitely loyal and devoted to their owner. For this, they are especially appreciated all over the world.

He alth. Hereditary diseases

Schipperke is a dog that has excellent he alth. Throughout their lives, these dogs are very playful and energetic. They are long-lived. The Schipperke dog breed is pure, not spoiled by breeders. But there is one serious but. The problem of this breed is a hereditary disease oncellular level, mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB. As a result, some dogs are born with the disease, others are not. The disease, unfortunately, begins to manifest itself after two or three years of life, while the puppy looks absolutely he althy. But there is a tremor, fear of obstacles, coordination is disturbed. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. The dog lives to a more serious condition. Then she has convulsions, loss of appetite and impotence. As a result, such an animal is euthanized.

To avoid such a problem, special tests are carried out. When choosing a puppy, be sure to check their availability. The result of the test divides the Schipperke into three types - normal, courier and affected. Within the breed of dogs with this disease is becoming less and less. But still it is recommended not to take the breeder's word for it, but to ask the test result. Then you will be more confident in the he alth of your new family member.

Hygiene. How to properly care for a representative of this species?

Now you know the description of the Schipperke breed, but how to care for such animals? Now we will tell you in detail. In general, caring for a Schipperke is no different from caring for other dog breeds. Their thick coat must be combed out several times (three to four) a week, you also need to clean your ears and teeth, trim your nails, and wipe your eyes with antiseptics. In winter, these pets are quite comfortable in their "fur coat", but in the summer months, walks under the scorching sun should be reduced to a minimum so that there is no overheating.

More hassle is caused by seasonal molts. During this period, the dog must be combed every day on the body with a single-row comb, and on the mane and back with a slicker brush. The breed does not need frequent bathing. The rough structure of wool practically does not absorb dirt. But before shows, the Schipperke is washed with a special shampoo for black wool to paint over the tips that have sun-bleached in the sun.

Food. How to feed and what?

The Schipperke dog breed (you can see a photo of its representatives in the article) is unpretentious in food. Therefore, the owner does not have to rack his brains and make a special menu for his pet. The animal eats absolutely everything that is given to it. This is a huge plus for those people who live in a frantic rhythm. Even one meal a day can be enough for a Schipperke. Portions should be average. Don't underfeed, but don't overfeed either.

If your dog's occasional food is food, then it must be balanced. This is especially true for puppies. After all, babies are very active, playful and inquisitive. This means that the body in the growth stage spends a lot of energy. Therefore, they need to get vitamins and minerals from food.

The Schipperke diet must include fish, meat, poultry, cereals, vegetables, herbs, dairy products. It is unacceptable to ingest tubular bones that can injure the intestines.

Games for your beloved pet

As Schipperke owners themselves say, these dogs have behavioral problemsmostly out of boredom. This breed needs daily exercise. We can say that in the movement of these dogs the whole meaning of life. If you do not play active games with them, they will feel unfulfilled. And this will entail aggression towards other pets, towards guests and even towards the owner himself.

Suitable games for Schipperke are apportation, frisbee, freestyle, obedience. This breed loves to hunt small game, follow the trail and swim.

Schipperke cost. How important is price?

Continuing to write a description of the Schipperke breed, one cannot but say about the cost of its representatives. In Russia, this breed is not the most famous and widespread. Despite this, the price of puppies is quite high. Experienced cynologists recommend buying a puppy in a kennel, even if the price is higher there. But on the other hand, you will be completely sure that you have acquired a representative of this particular breed.

You can study the description of the Schipperke breed for a long time and look at a lot of photos, but this, alas, will not reduce the likelihood that you will buy a non-pedigreed puppy from your hands. It is important to remember: the lower the price, the greater the risk of buying a dog with a bad pedigree. Moreover, it is possible to acquire a pet with some kind of hereditary disease transmitted to him from his parents.

When buying a puppy from a breeder, you can be sure that his dog will meet all the parameters and standards of his species.

The Schipperke breed is quite interesting. Reviews about her are usually positive. People love these dogs. uniqueA feature of this breed of dog, according to professionals, is its increased sensitivity to mood swings of the owner. Demanding nothing in return but care and love, these dogs become the most loyal friends for their owners!

Small conclusion

Now you know what a Schipperke is. Description of the breed, photos you can find in our article. People love these dogs. These dogs have a lot of positive qualities. But they also have negative ones. For example, if you raise a pet incorrectly, it can become aggressive. Therefore, before you get such a dog, weigh the pros and cons.