Schipperke Puppy Information

A Schipperke puppy is highly energetic and mildly protective, while very loyal and devoted in temperament. As this type of puppy grows, develops and matures into an adult, he will become a friendly companion and will also be vocally and physically protective of his family and territory.

  1. Appearance

    • The Schipperke is a small breed of dog and can be described as looking fox-like. It will eventually weigh between 12 and 16 lbs. when it is full grown. Males grow to 11 to 13 inches high and females grow to 10 to 12 inches high. Puppies and adults have square profiles, small black noses and small oval eyes coupled with triangle-shaped ears, The puppy has a coarse, straight black coat. Its neck is framed by a prominent ruffle of fur. The outside, thick coat can feel harsh to the touch while the undercoat is soft and thick and looks like a mane. Schipperke puppies can sometimes be born tailless.

    Character

    • This puppy is difficult to house train because of its average intelligence level. However, you can train this puppy with consistent routines and patience. The puppy is good-natured, alert and self-confident. Schipperke puppies strive to make a strong connection with their families. It will protect its family and home from perpetrators. Because Schipperke puppies were originally bred to hunt small animals, some puppies will have hunting instincts. More often, the puppies will be more of a watch dog than hunter. These puppies get along well with children but they need to be introduced to other furry members of the family as a puppy early on, otherwise they will be extremely territorial.

    Maintenance

    • This breed of dog is quite clean. However, as a lively puppy, the Schipperke may get into a bit more muck and grime through its days of play. To keep the fur clean, comb or brush the outside coat of the puppy with a firm bristle brush. You can do dry shampooing occasionally as the puppy will clean itself. The puppy will also shed heavily up to three times a year, and every year into and during adulthood. The undercoat is shed during these molting periods and brushing and cleaning the fur will be helpful to get rid of excess fur. The puppy will need to be taken in for regular vet checks to maintain a healthy life span.

    Training

    • Because the Schipperke puppy is not the most intelligent of dog breeds, it will require strict but gentle training on a consistent basis. As a puppy, the Schipperke can lose interest in training quite quickly as it has heaps of energy and is always alert to its surroundings and changing environments or actions around it. Obedience classes or help from dog specialists will create a well-mannered and house-trained puppy.

    Environment

    • Schipperke puppies can live in apartments, in houses indoors or outdoors in houses with fenced yards. If the puppy lives in an apartment, it can get a decent amount of exercise by running around indoors. They are active and need to be taken for walks or jogs on a daily basis so they can use up some of their endless energy reserves. The Schipperke puppy loves to run. It will thrive inside a home environment or outside in a backyard. It can run freely and obediently unleashed in an outdoor park.