Schipperke - One of the best breeds for beginners
This breed is not the best known in Belgium, but yes one of the most sympathetic and the best for beginners, very manageable and that fits anywhere, such as floors or apartments.
- Size: 25 to 33 cm
- Weight: 3 to 9 kilos
- Hair type: abundant, soft and smooth
- Character: kind and awake
- Health: Good, with some hereditary diseases
- Hope of vineA: From 12 to 14 years
Schipperke origins
When we see Schipperke gives us the feeling that We are facing a Belgian shepherd Very small and this is normal, since both races come from Leauvenaar, the ancestor of both.
His name so rare means little boatman in Belgian, where he is originally, and the reason for calling it is because I went with the barqueros that crossed the Flanders channel, taking care of cleaning rodent vessels.
He also guarded, because although he does not scare anyone due to his size, he is very scandalous, so immediately the owners of the boats knew that there was someone wandering.
There is already talk of a dog similar to this at the end of the 17th century, where the Brussels shoemakers made exhibitions in which animals were not judged, but the necklaces that were wearing positions.
The legend tells that the tradition of amputating his tail, today prohibited in many countries, comes from an angry shoemaker who cut his dog to his dog because he did not win the contest, something that the other participants liked that they saw that the Schipperke was very good like that.
Schipperke features
We are facing a small dog, but that does not mean that it is weak, since the FCI describes it as solid body and harmonious forms.
Maybe What attracts most attention is its appearance, since it looks like a black zorrillo and cunning look, which is what makes us distinguish this race, even if we see one of its specimens come from afar.
The eyes are also very characteristic of almond and express both goodness and tenderness, because nothing in a Schipperke implies that it can be an aggressive animal.
The hair is very abundant, hard and an average length by the body, shorter throughout the head area, with a very intense black color, although parts of a fairly dark gray are admitted in the subpelle.
His most classic image is with the tail cut, but we can already see them intact and are even prettier. In addition, we must not forget that in many countries like Spain this is prohibited, becoming a crime and getting the dog cannot participate in exhibitions if cut.
Schipperke character
It is a love with its owners and is always looking for the love of theirs, being very loyal to all its owners and respectful of the rules that impose it.
With children it behaves great, and in fact it is one of the best dogs for families, since he loves to spend time with the little ones, hiding and playing to look for him or doing the same with the children, who immediately work with him and worship him.
Although he is very small, and that he has nothing to do against a thief, he is a good guardian, because he is very distrustful, which comes as an inheritance of his past in the ships in Belgium.
He comes to keep objects if we ask for it, but with this you have to be careful, since he can do that with his toys and will cost him to leave us to have fun with him.
If we live in a rural area we can carelessness of the rodents, since it will end with all those who are, becoming a natural and ecological raticide.
You can only put a paste and it is a barking, which will cause us problems in the cities, since the neighbors will soon complain.
Schipperke education
Educating it is very simple and it will not cost you much to learn the basic rules that you need to dominate every dog, such as coming to us if we call it, sit, be still, lie down, etc.
That's why It is a very appropriate race for beginners, who will enjoy teaching him and seeing how their dog responds immediately, something that is very edifying.
In addition, its small size facilitates its handling, although it is better that we do not take advantage of this when educating it, for example pulling the belt if it ignores, and use various positive training techniques.
Here alone He has two weak points such as barking and his fondness for hunting, which makes it complicated to live in a house with small pets, such as rabbits or chinchillas.
You can try to educate to bark less, although it goes against its nature and the same can be done in order to control its hunting instinct, although this is even more complicated.
On the hunt for small animals, it helps quite coincides with several when he is a puppy, at which time he can see them as playmates, although we should not take his eye off him.
Schipperke health
It has good health, so we will not always be in the veterinarian if we follow some basic guidelines, which consist that they see it at least once a year, put their vaccines and deworm it every three months.
Anyway, there are a number of diseases that are own or hereditary, as we want to call them, and One of them is the dislocation of the kneecap, which suffer many dogs of this size and that is usually corrected with medications.
He also suffers from eye problems, so you have to check his eyes often and go to the veterinarian if we see that he does not open one at all, the light bothers him, he has it red or tears in excess.
It is no stranger to hip problems and there is always the possibility of developing dysplasia, something that can be avoided if we buy our copy from an accredited breeder, who proves us that his parents and grandparents are free of this disease.
Schipperke care
Despite what it may seem for the hair, It does not need too many brushes and is formed with two a week, in addition to a bathroom from time to time we see that it is very dirty.
You have to be more careful with the food, because the Schipperke is quite glutton and that is why it has a certain tendency to gain weight, something that can be prevented by exercising with him daily, which will be good for us too.
If in spite of that we see what fattens, It is best to give it a I think with a lot of fiber And talk to your veterinarian, valuing whether we must keep that kind of food while you live, always acquiring it for small dogs.
Adopt a Schipperke
Outside your country of origin it is difficult to find one on the street and let's not say for adoption.
Thus, In the event that we want to adopt one, it is best to go to Belgium, where it will be more or less simple to find a copy. Being inside the EU to bring it is very easy, because you will only have to come vaccinated and identified.
In the case of having the opportunity to possess one we should not think much, especially if we live outside the city, where its barking matters little.
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