Anyone have a Schipperke?

[TeamTinkerbell]

We are picking up our Schipperke puppy in a few weeks. Does anyone have a Schipperke that can share their wisdom?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm trying to think what exactly this kind of puppy is...I'd guess a cross between a schnauzer and a.... pickle? Perhaps this is the store you're getting it from ......

 

[tiggersmom2]

Yes, my mother has one and it is HYPER! It reminds me of a jack russell, she is full of energy. That dog will not, will NOT potty train and it is 3 years old now. They are very mild tempered and sweet dogs...hope you have better luck potty training than my Mom.

 

[Honu]

Are you home all day? Because that's what they like. My best friend has one (it's her second Schipperke) and she's a pretty good dog, but they definitely need a ton of attention and exercise, and they don't like to be left alone. Every time my friend leaves hers alone for more than a couple (like 2-3) hours, potty training becomes an issue, even when she's crated. They also like to dig and escape, so fortify your yard.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

My parents have two of them. They do seem to need a lot of attention...they annoy my highly, actually.

 

[Minnie_me]

Never had one. Never even heard of one. But found this:

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/schipperkes.html

Schipperkes
If you want a dog who...

Is unusual-looking: a little black spitz-like dog with a foxy face, thick coat, rounded rump, and docked tail
Is one of the most dynamic, intense, and curious of all breeds
Is quick-moving and agile and thrives on athletic activites and interactive games
Makes an extremely keen watchdog
Is hardy, healthy, and long-lived
A Schipperke may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

Extremely high activity level
Providing enough exercise and activities to keep him busy
Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much
Suspiciousness toward strangers
Aggression toward other animals -- strong chasing instincts
Escape attempts and running away
Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
Lots of barking
Shedding
Slowness to housebreak
A Schipperke may not be right for you.

If I were considering a Schipperke...my major concerns would be:

Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Schipperkes are incredibly active go-getters. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Schipperkes can make a shambles of your house and yard.
I strongly recommend that you get your Schipperke involved in obedience classes at the intermediate or advanced level, in agility (an obstacle course for dogs), or in tracking.
Suspiciousness toward strangers. Standoffish by nature, Schipperkes need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become extreme suspiciousness, which is difficult to live with and could even lead to biting.
If you have small children, I do not recommend a Schipperke. First, because children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Schipperke puppy who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Even Schipperke adults may feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and there are many Schipperkes who won't tolerate any nonsense and are quick to react to teasing. Finally, some Schipperkes simply play too roughly, including nipping.
Animal aggression. Many Schipperkes are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster!
Schipperkes cannot be trusted off-leash. They will take off -- oblivious to your frantic shouts -- after anything that runs.
Fence security. Many Schipperkes are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. To keep your Schipperke in, you may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks.
The strong temperament. Schipperkes are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
To teach your Schipperke to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Schipperke Training Page discusses the program you need.
Barking. Schipperkes are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, Schipperkes are not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Schipperkes should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, many Schipperkes have intense, high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge.
Heavy shedding. Schipperkes shed quite a bit. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life.
Housebreaking. Schipperkes tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training before you see results.

 

[chris1gill]

I bought one when I was younger, I pretty much experienced what everyone is talking about, first he was a GREAT dog, cute as the dickens, but I didn't know much about the breed before I bought him. He had a lot of energy and got bored really quickly, he really needed a place where he could run in and out, and I just didn't have that at the time. He WAS slow to potty train, but by six months he was fairly good, but I wasn't particularly good at training him....

All said, now in my life I'd like to get another but at the time I was too young, didn't have the proper environment, and wasn't prepared to care for him properly. I realized that by the time he was about six months old and sold him to someone who did have all these things.

He was the cutest of all things, and I wouldn't hesitate to get one now.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I googled and they sure are beautiful. How did you decide on this breed?

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

Okay..... Sooo, I didn't get the responses I hoped for, but thanks for being honest. We decided on this breed b/c we are boaters and this is a dog that supposedly likes the water quite a bit. We are gone during the day, however, my husband is a territory manager and will be home several times during the day. I had not heard that they were hyper or hard to train, in fact to the contrary. We did a huge amount of research online about them, but admittedly, I don't really know anyone that has one. I am not looking forward to the shedding aspect of the dog and being hyper doesn't bother me so much as long she is not completely distructive. The dog is for my DD's 10th birthday. She is an only child and since we're not having any more (children), we felt she needed something to keep her busy. DH and I can only do so much with/for her. She is extremely active too, so this seemed like the right breed.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Sounds like it will probably be a good match for you and your family. Your daughter is at a good age for a dog and will likely give the dog the attention it needs. And it's great that your husband can stop at home throughout the day.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

I'm trying to think what exactly this kind of puppy is...I'd guess a cross between a schnauzer and a.... pickle? Perhaps this is the store you're getting it from ......

Sorry, I missed that before.

 

[mirthmaiden]

I don't know anything about dogs. Are they just making up new names for dog breeds now? Seems like every few days I'm reading about some dog breed I've never heard of.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Sorry, I missed that before.

I was afraid I'd offended you.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

Never had one. Never even heard of one. But found this:

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/schipperkes.html

Schipperkes
If you want a dog who...

Is unusual-looking: a little black spitz-like dog with a foxy face, thick coat, rounded rump, and docked tail
Is one of the most dynamic, intense, and curious of all breeds
Is quick-moving and agile and thrives on athletic activites and interactive games
Makes an extremely keen watchdog
Is hardy, healthy, and long-lived
A Schipperke may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

Extremely high activity level
Providing enough exercise and activities to keep him busy
Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much
Suspiciousness toward strangers
Aggression toward other animals -- strong chasing instincts
Escape attempts and running away
Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
Lots of barking
Shedding
Slowness to housebreak
A Schipperke may not be right for you.

If I were considering a Schipperke...my major concerns would be:

Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Schipperkes are incredibly active go-getters. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Schipperkes can make a shambles of your house and yard.
I strongly recommend that you get your Schipperke involved in obedience classes at the intermediate or advanced level, in agility (an obstacle course for dogs), or in tracking.
Suspiciousness toward strangers. Standoffish by nature, Schipperkes need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become extreme suspiciousness, which is difficult to live with and could even lead to biting.
If you have small children, I do not recommend a Schipperke. First, because children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Schipperke puppy who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Even Schipperke adults may feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and there are many Schipperkes who won't tolerate any nonsense and are quick to react to teasing. Finally, some Schipperkes simply play too roughly, including nipping.
Animal aggression. Many Schipperkes are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster!
Schipperkes cannot be trusted off-leash. They will take off -- oblivious to your frantic shouts -- after anything that runs.
Fence security. Many Schipperkes are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. To keep your Schipperke in, you may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks.
The strong temperament. Schipperkes are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
To teach your Schipperke to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Schipperke Training Page discusses the program you need.
Barking. Schipperkes are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, Schipperkes are not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Schipperkes should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, many Schipperkes have intense, high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge.
Heavy shedding. Schipperkes shed quite a bit. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life.
Housebreaking. Schipperkes tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training before you see results.

Wow, thanks. In doing a crazy amount of research about all dogs, I found that there is something good and bad about every breed. I knew I wanted a smaller dog, preferably not a shedder, but we have a long haired cat that leaves little piles of black hair on the carpet where she lays. So I'm prepared for that. The whole boat thing is a plus, however, we once had a chocolate lab that was scared of the water, any water. So I guess we're taking a chance. We have other dogs on both sides of us so she will be socialized as soon as she gets home. We also have lots of children in our family and neighborhood so she will have to be socialized very soon too. The breeder that we are getting her from has grandchildren that play daily with these dogs from the beginning. Absolutely yes to the obedience training. In fact, I've already looked into it. I hate to go to other houses and have their dogs jumping all over me. I especially hate to sit down at the table to eat and have a dog staring at me or begging for food. We'll have to see how she does. Any others?

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

I was afraid I'd offended you.

No, not at all. We'd just gotten home from church and I was trying to read through everything and just totally missed.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

I don't know anything about dogs. Are they just making up new names for dog breeds now? Seems like every few days I'm reading about some dog breed I've never heard of.

Actually Schipperke (pronounced skipper kee) is flemish or something meaning captain of the boat. They've been around since some time in the 1800's. They were bred to be guard dogs for barges, or so the story goes. I remember seeing their breed online while researching and since I didn't have a clue how I would pronounce it, I didn't even look at the dog.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Okay..... Sooo, I didn't get the responses I hoped for, but thanks for being honest. We decided on this breed b/c we are boaters and this is a dog that supposedly likes the water quite a bit. We are gone during the day, however, my husband is a territory manager and will be home several times during the day. I had not heard that they were hyper or hard to train, in fact to the contrary. We did a huge amount of research online about them, but admittedly, I don't really know anyone that has one. I am not looking forward to the shedding aspect of the dog and being hyper doesn't bother me so much as long she is not completely distructive. The dog is for my DD's 10th birthday. She is an only child and since we're not having any more (children), we felt she needed something to keep her busy. DH and I can only do so much with/for her. She is extremely active too, so this seemed like the right breed.

Well, Labs like the water. How many dogs have you owned?

We also have a boat and right now we are planning on "boating training" our dogs.

So, I would tell you right away to train the dog to potty on the leash "on command". Save yourself a step.

One of our dogs will not potty "on-leash". However we are moving into an apartment and he will be forced too. Which will be a plus for taking them boating.

Good Luck with your puppy and do alot of research into how to keep this dog entertained and challenged.
Buy good walking shoes or a treadmill for the dog.

 

[Honu]

Just a heads up. My friend with the dog also has kids. The 13 year old does really well with the dog, because she is firm with her. The 10 and 8 year old get snapped at and bit fairly often, because they get afraid when the dog gets riled or snippy. So it's really important that your daughter assume that alpha role. This isn't a cuddle-bug type of dog. They will show affection, but they'll also do their best to try and assume that alpha title.

 

[chris1gill]

I don't know anything about dogs. Are they just making up new names for dog breeds now? Seems like every few days I'm reading about some dog breed I've never heard of.

I had mine about 18 years ago, so it's not a new breed...

Mine didn't have the shedding problem that's been described here however..

 

[RobInBigKC]

My parents have two of them. They do seem to need a lot of attention...they annoy my highly, actually.

MY inlaws have owned schipperkes, one at a time, for about the last 28 years. I have had quite a bit of exposure to them and I find the dogs to be quite annoying also (and I am a huge dog lover). They are hyper little dogs yipping and yapping all the time.

-- Rob