Schipperke Breed Information & Characteristics

They are known for having a strong tendency to become overweight. It is important to find a balance between providing enough exercise and controlling their food intake. To maintain a healthy weight, it is recommended to increase the frequency and duration of daily walks and to engage in more playtime with the Schipperke.

Unfortunately, the Schipperke is not hypoallergenic, making it not a good choice for a dog lover who suffers from pet allergies.

Agile
Curious
Fearless
Intelligent
Confident
Faithful
Independent

Schipperke dogs are not heavy shedders, but they will lose a significant amount of hair each year. To decrease the amount of shedding, you can regularly brush your Schipperke. This will remove loose hair and keep his coat growing in the same direction.

The Schipperke dogs are average watchdogs. If they sense something different, this breed will alert their owner.

Belgium

sheepdog

1600s

Non Sporting (AKC:1904)
Companion Breeds (UKC)

Brown

Black

Black
Cream
Brown
Blue

The coat of a Schipperke falls in the medium length category.

Straight

A Schipperke can have a litter of 13-15 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

Schipperkes are known for their adaptability and versatility, they are capable of adapting well to a wide range of lifestyle changes and living environments. They are a highly adaptable breed, and make great companions for families and individuals of all lifestyles.

The Schipperke is generally considered to be healthy. However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to certain health issues and it is important to keep an eye out for them and address them with your veterinarian as needed.

Usually A Very Healthy Breed

Entropion
Epilepsy
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Eye
Hip
X-Rays
MRI
Eye Examination

Schipperkes are high-energy dogs, thus an active lifestyle suits them well.

Schipperkes have average social needs compared to other breeds. They are known to be less active and independent than other breeds, and they are content with spending time alone and with their human family.

The Schipperke needs a high level of physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They also make great companions for people who lead an active lifestyle and enjoy running, hiking or other outdoor activities. These breeds are not suitable for people with sedentary lifestyle or those who live in small apartments

Schipperkes are active dogs that don't require as much sleep as other breeds. However, they still need enough sleep to stay healthy.

The Schipperke is a breed of dog that is characterized by its minimal drooling, making it an ideal choice for people who dislike drool marks on their clothing.

Schipperkes are known to bark very little or not at all. They tend to be very quiet and do not bark excessively. They may only bark in specific situations, such as when they need to alert their owner to something important or when they are in distress.

Schipperke dogs are known for being average at defending. They possess the capability to defend their territory or owners, but it is not their primary trait. They are not the best choice for guard dogs

Walks, "Love fests", More walks, Sniffing, Training, Play, Walk

Schipperkes are medium-energy dogs and typically enjoy socializing and playing casual or even sustained games of chase with other dogs. They may also have occasional periods of barking or racing around the house.

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For Schipperke, it's at least 7 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

In general most Schipperkes usually need at least 45 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

The Schipperke is a breed of dog that is known for its low grooming needs.

Schipperke should be brushed at least once a week. Of course you can give them more frequent brushes if you find that they are still shedding a lot

Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Nail Clipper

For an average 12-16 pound (5 - 7 kg) Schipperke feed 0.8 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

The average cost of a Schipperke is somewhere $1.10 - $1.40 per day.

The average per month expenses of a Schipperke is between $35 - $42. This makes an average of $420 - $504 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

The Schipperke breed is considered very intelligent and easy to train.

This dog breed is more sensitive than others and easily overwhelmed by new surroundings and people. They need gentle handling and a calm, stable home environment with positive reinforcement training.

It's not recommended to keep the Schipperke in an apartment, but this breed make good apartment dogs as long as they get to spend a good amount of time outside of the apartment. Schipperkes living in apartments will need plenty of physical exercise and stimulation throughout the day to remain happy and well-behaved.

Schipperkes are kid-friendly dogs. They are good with children and excellent dogs with children if they are socialized and trained at a young age.

Schipperkes are one of the best dogs for cats. They're accept cats readily as part of the family. However, this dog breed should be trained to not chase after the kitty early on

Schipperkes are average friendly towards other dogs. If they are raised with other dogs, they are likely to get along with them. And, if they are socialized properly from a young age, they will usually be great with other dogs.

Schipperkes are below average friendly around strangers. Keen of eye and sharp of tongue, most Schipperkes are very quick to announce strangers at the door. Once the visitor comes in, some Schipperkes will be friendly and outgoing. But many others have the standoffish or suspicious towards strangers.

Schipperkes are known to be highly playful dog. So if you're not up for all that, think about adopting a slightly older Schipperke for a mellower experience.

Schipperke dogs are usually easy to train, but may require consistency to fully obey commands.