Schipperke puppies

About the Schipperke

The Schipperke comes from Belgium, where they worked in workshops and on canal barges as a ratter and a small watchdog, which is roughly the job they still give themselves. They weigh 4.5 to 7.3 kg and stand 25 to 33 cm, black, with a short double coat that forms a pronounced ruff around the neck and a tailless or short tailed rear. The character is intensely curious, self assured and opinionated, and they miss nothing that happens anywhere near their territory.

Energy is moderate but concentrated: a brisk daily walk plus a romp in a fenced garden covers it, and they will happily burn off the rest racing round the house. Grooming is a weekly brush, with more during the once or twice yearly shed. They are rated four out of five for barking and they announce every arrival. Rated three with children, so supervision and socialisation apply. Owners underestimate the escape instinct, because a curious Schipperke will test every gap in a fence.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Schipperke puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• MPS IIIB, a fatal inherited storage disease that usually shows as balance problems at 2 to 4 years, detectable by DNA test in carriers
• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Legg Calve Perthes disease, screened by a hip evaluation
• Hereditary cataract and other eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Thyroid disease, screened by a thyroid evaluation
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by a neurological workup once other causes of seizures are ruled out

Your Schipperke puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Schipperke.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4.5 to 7.3 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 7.3 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Schipperke

Previous: Schapendoes · Next: Schnoodle

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Schipperke breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schipperke/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Lilly M, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.