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Nonetheless, he's generally eager to please, so with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement you can have a well-trained Schipperke. You can always count on him to add his own touch to an exercise when he's performing in the agility or obedience ring.
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Training can be a challenge with this intelligent but sometimes stubborn and always humorous dog. For the same reasons, always walk him on leash. He's a notorious escape artist and oblivious to cars and other dangers when he takes it into his head to go exploring. Keep the Schipperke in a securely fenced yard when he's outdoors. Let him create his own entertainment or occupation and, well, don't say we didn't warn you. Give the Schipperke a job to do, or train him for agility, obedience, or other dog sports, and you have a well-behaved friend for life. The family Schipperke will occupy himself by hunting squirrels or other furry beasts in the yard, but he also needs daily playtime and walks to help burn off his energy. These days, Schipperkes have been used for such diverse jobs as hearing dogs, search and rescue, and sniffing out drugs and bombs. This is an active dog who was bred to work.
#SKIPPER DOG FREE#
Weekly brushing keeps his coat clean and free of dead hairs. He doesn't shed excessively, except for seasonal heavy sheds once or twice a year. The Schipperke's size and easy-care coat are popular characteristics. He's protective of and devoted to his people and can be aloof toward strangers until he decides they're okay. He wants to be involved in all family activities and loves children of all ages, playing pattycake and smiling all the while. Always alert, he patrols his home and property, barking warnings as needed and seeking out and destroying any mice, squirrels, or other vermin that dare invade his space. Today the Schipperke is a companion who captains his family in much the same way as he once led canal boats. Shoemakers and other tradesmen kept them for their ratting abilities. The name Schipperke is thought to have come from a word meaning "little shepherd," but the dogs were best known for guarding the boats that plied the canals between Brussels and Antwerp. The loyal and intelligent Schipperke originated in Belgium as a small version of a black Belgian sheepdog known as the Leauvenaar. In 1882, a writer in the breed's homeland of Belgium described the Schipperke as "a little all-black devil, but minus the cloven hoof and the tail." He's changed little since then. They're known for their beauty and feisty nature.īeware if you think he's simply a sweet little companion dog the Schipperke has the "small dog.big personality" persona down pat. Schipperkes are beautiful small black dogs with pricked ears and a coat that gives the impression of a sloped back. Young children and dogs of any breed should always be supervised by an adult and never left alone together, period.Ĭlick here for more information on this characteristic
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No matter what the breed or breed type, all dogs have strong jaws, sharp pointy teeth, and may bite in stressful circumstances.
#SKIPPER DOG HOW TO#
Dogs from any breed can be good with children based on their past experiences, training on how to get along with kids, and personality. Our ratings are generalizations, and they're not a guarantee of how any breed or individual dog will behave. Small, delicate, and potentially snappy dogs such as Chihuahuas aren't always so family-friendly. You may be surprised by who's on that list: Fierce-looking Boxers are considered good with children, as are American Staffordshire Terriers (which are considered Pit Bulls). Being gentle with children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a blasé attitude toward running, screaming children are all traits that make a kid-friendly dog.
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