Schipperke
舒柏奇犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Schipperke is the 'little captain' of the Belgian canals — a small, black, foxy-faced dog with a thick ruff and no more than 33 cm of height, built for hard work as a shipboard ratter and a fearless watchdog on barges and in the shops of Brussels and Antwerp. Schips are alert, curious and confident: bright, inquisitive, fond of children, quiet unless alarmed, sociable with other animals and — a big dog in a little package — able to cope fearlessly with almost anything. They are independent and can be a challenge to train, will bark and wander off exploring if not taught otherwise, need a lead outside a fence and a recall taught as early as possible, and blow their double coat once or twice a year.
Facts
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Height | 25–33cm |
| Weight | 4.5–8kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–16years |
| Breed group | AKC: non-sporting FCI: 1 |
| Role | Companion |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–90min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 4/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Cataracts
Hereditary cataracts are reported in the breed. Ask your vet about eye examinations if you notice cloudiness in the eyes.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is reported in the breed. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is commonly reported in small breeds; breeders screen for it. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (a hip condition of small breeds) is reported in the breed. Ask your vet if a young dog shows hind-leg lameness.
Skin and allergy problems
Skin problems and allergies are commonly reported in the breed. Ask your vet if you notice itching, redness or recurring ear/skin infections.
Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (MPS IIIB)
MPS IIIB, a fatal inherited storage disease that usually shows by two to four years of age as balance problems, is reported in the breed; the AKC and the parent club say a DNA test identifies carriers and the club asks for it before breeding any dog of unknown status. Ask your breeder whether the parents were tested.
Hair-coat disorder (Alopecia X-like)
The parent club's health page describes a hair-coat disorder in Schipperkes that resembles Alopecia X — symmetrical hair loss without itching. Ask your vet if your dog loses coat on the body or the coat fails to regrow after clipping.
Behaviour
A big dog in a little package
The CKC calls the Schipperke bright, active and inquisitive, fond of children and a fine family pet, an excellent protective watchdog that is quiet unless alarmed, a good ratter yet sociable with other animals, with an independent streak but intelligent and highly trainable — a quick, accurate worker in obedience, tracking, scent work and agility — and a big dog in a little package that copes fearlessly with almost any situation. The AKC agrees on the watchdog tendencies, warning that Schips can turn into barkers if not taught otherwise and that their independent nature can make training a challenge, though persistent, patient owners find they can learn almost anything.
Busy explorer — teach the recall early
The AKC calls Schipperkes very active, energetic and busy little dogs that need a brisk daily walk or a romp in a fenced yard, love playing and exploring and can let off steam racing round the house or apartment; equally happy in a flat or a house with a big garden, they should be on leash outside a fenced area, go to obedience classes, and absolutely need to be taught to come when called as early as possible because of their instinctive urge to explore. The CKC says the playful, hardy Schip needs only moderate outdoor exercise, suits any accommodation and can hike long distances within reason; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 1 hour a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 4/5, barking level 4/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Schipperke
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Schipperke (Non Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Schipperke
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 12 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Schipperke (standard no. 83, group 1)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's 2025 health-testing statement recommends that every Schipperke be tested before breeding or by two years of age, whichever comes first: an eye examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist (ideally yearly, and after seven years or whenever an eye problem appears), a complete thyroid panel after one year with re-evaluation at six to eight, a patella examination after one year, and hip radiographs — after one year for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease or after two for hip dysplasia — plus an MPS IIIB test for any dog of unknown status and a cardiac examination. Its health page adds articles on a hair-coat disorder resembling Alopecia X, a DNA test for the 'fluff' long-coat gene, and an epilepsy study for dogs with seizures.”
— Schipperke Club of America — Health Testing Schipperkes (2025) via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Schipperke — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Schipperke — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Schipperke — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Schipperke — FCI standard no. 83 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Health Testing Schipperkes (September 2025) — Schipperke Club of America — Schipperke Club of America (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Schipperke Health — Schipperke Club of America — Schipperke Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.