Schipperke

Companion Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

Schipperke means “little shepherd” in Flemish. A small, black sheepdog that was called Leuvenaar was probably the common ancestor of the Belgian Shepherd and the Schipperke. Schipperkes have been used as vermin catchers for many centuries. They became fashionable thanks to Queen Marie-Henriette of Belgium. They were introduced into Great Britain and the USA in 1887.

General Appearance

The Schipperke is a small, solidly built dog, square in proportion, with a wedge-shaped head and a distinctive black coat that grows in a specific pattern. It has a broad, stocky body but its limbs are fine in bone.

Characteristics

The Schipperke is an excellent small guard dog, good at giving alarm, and aloof with strangers. It is active, agile and tirelessly interested in what is going on around it. The breed is gentle with children and useful as a vermin hunter.

Head

The head is fairly broad, wedge-shaped, and not too long. The brows and the cheekbones are moderately arched. The stop is apparent but not exaggerated. The toplines of the skull and muzzle lie in parallel planes.

SKULL

The skull is wide between the ears, narrowing towards the eyes. In profile, it is slightly rounded.

MUZZLE

The muzzle tapers in width towards the nose and has tight-fitting black lips. The length of the muzzle is slightly less that one-half the length of the entire head.

Serious Fault: Lips lacking in black pigment.

TEETH

A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite; an even bite is acceptable.

Serious Faults: Undershot or overshot bite.

EYES

The small, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown, with black eye rims. The expression is lively and mischievous.

Serious Fault: Eye rims lacking in black pigmentation.

NOSE

The nose is small and black.

Serious Fault: Nose lacking in black pigmentation.

EARS

The small, erect triangular shaped ears are set high but not too close together. They are very mobile.

Serious Fault: Any ear carriage other than erect.

Neck

Medium length and strongly muscled, the neck is slightly arched at the crest and appears very big due to the abundant ruff of hair.

Forequarters

The shoulder blades and upper arms are long and sloping, which places the front legs well under the body.

FORELEGS

The forelegs are straight, fine in bone and set rather far apart. Pasterns are short and nearly vertical. The distance from the elbow to the ground is half the height at the withers. Dewclaws may be removed.

Body

Short, wide and square, with a deep, broad chest and a prominent forechest. The withers are pronounced and the topline slopes gently to the croup, which is broad and appears rounded when viewed from behind. (Known as a Guinea Pig rump). The underline rises gently from the deep chest to the belly, which is only moderately tucked up.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters are well under the body with broad, strongly muscled thighs.

HIND LEGS

Perfectly straight when viewed from behind, with fine bone. Moderate angulation at the stifle and hock joints. Short rear pasterns. Dewclaws should be removed.

Feet

Small, round, tight with well-arched toes, and short black nails.

Tail

Customarily docked to no more than one inch in length. If natural, the tail will be broad at the base, tapering to the end, and of various lengths and carriages. The tail may be straight, or curled and carried over the back.

Coat

Double, with a firm, harsh, straight outer coat, and a soft, thick undercoat. The hair on the ears, head, front of the front legs, and rear legs from the hock to the ground is short. On the body, the coat is moderate in length and close lying. On the neck, starting at the outer edges of the ears, the hair is much longer, forming a ruff, frill and mane on the entire neck and chest, continuing between the front legs and then gradually fading away. On the back of the thighs, the hair is long and abundant, forming culottes. The tips of the culottes point inward. The tail is furnished with hair the same as on the body.
Serious Faults: Coat that is overly long, soft or silky. Lack of the characteristic coat pattern. Fringes of hair on the ears. Total lack of undercoat.

Color

The Schipperke is a solid black dog. Other solid colors (shades of cream, ivory, wheaten, gold, red, white, blue, and chocolate) do occur and are permissible. However, bi-colored dogs such as black and tan, or dilute colors such as blue-cream, are not solid colors and are eliminating faults.

Disqualifications: Any white markings. Albinism.

Weight

Up to 19 pounds.

Serious Fault: Clearly over the prescribed weight.

Gait

Characteristic gait is firm and supple, with reasonable reach and drive. The topline remains straight. At a slower speed, the legs move parallel to one another. As speed increases, the legs tend to converge.

Eliminating Faults

(An Eliminating Fault is a Fault serious enough that it eliminates the dog from obtaining any awards in a conformation event.)
Bi-colored dogs such as black and tan, or dilute colors, such as blue-cream.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Any white markings.
Albinism.

The docking of tails and cropping of ears in America is legal and remains a personal choice. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears.