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Schipperke

The breeds · companion

AKC Non-Sporting · UKC Companion · FCI standard 83

Schipperke.

FCI 83: utilization 'small guardian and companion dog', Group 1 sheep and cattle dogs, Section 1 sheepdogs; the Schipperke has been renowned as a catcher of mice, rats, moles and other vermin since its 17th-century origin among cobblers and working people of Brussels. AKC standard: an agile, active watchdog and hunter of vermin. UKC: used for centuries as boat dogs, guarding barges and the urban craft shops of shoemakers and butchers; renowned catchers of mice, rats and other vermin. RKC: developed to keep down vermin on Belgian barges, and adept as a watchdog. AKC breed page: the traditional barge dog of the Low Countries. Wikipedia: only occasionally seen on barges, not its original function; the Flemish name can read 'little shepherd'; descends from the Leuvenaar, a black sheepdog..

Breed sets the odds. The parents set the dog. Every number here shows its source, its spread and how sure we are. Nothing on this page is a prediction about one dog.

14.2YRMedian lifespan12.7 to 15.8, measured on real dogs.
0INHeightdogs null, bitches null. An ideal from the standard, not a range.
7–20LBWeight, all linesbreed 6.6 to 19.8 lb.
1HRSExercise, every dayRoyal Kennel Club: up to 1 hour per day; suits a flat or apartment and a small to medium garden; town or country. AKC breed page score: energy level 3 of 5.. The constraint most homes get wrong.

The body

What the breed is built like. Registry standards give an ideal, not a range.

Height at the shoulder

dogs 11 to 13.2 in · bitches 10 to 12.3 in

Breed clubAKC breed standard, 1990

Center blank: the standards print ranges.

Weight

6.6 to 19.8 lb

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2010

Center blank: FCI's sought-after average is a range. FCI figures converted from kg. Weight clearly outside the limits is a disqualifying fault in FCI.

Coat

AKC: abundant, straight, slightly harsh outer coat; softer dense undercoat; several distinct lengths (short on face, ears, front of forelegs and hocks, medium on the body, long in the ruff, cape, jabot and culottes); natural black only; lack of differentiation in coat lengths is penalized. UKC: double coat with ruff, cape, jabot and culottes; solid black, blonde or brown, judged equally. FCI: totally black, with ruff, mane, frill and culottes. RKC: standard colours black, cream and gold.

Breed clubAKC breed standard, 1990

Shedding

Shedding 3 of 5 (AKC breed page trait score)

Breed clubAKC

AKC breed page trait score, 1 to 5: a breed-club tendency, never a measurement.

Heat tolerance

3 of 5 · AKC: abundant, straight, slightly harsh outer coat over a dense soft undercoat, with a stand-out ruff, cape and culottes. FCI: top coat abundant, thick, straight, harsh, over a soft thick undercoat. UKC: double coated.

DerivedAKC breed standard, 1990

Derived from the coat description (medium double coat = 3 on the ruled scale). No measured data.

How long they live, and what they cost

Measured on real dogs, with the sample and the spread. Never a guess.

Median lifespan

14.2 years (12.7 to 15.8)

MeasuredMcMillan KM, 2024

Small sample (76 dogs, 28 deaths), so the CI is wide. The older KC survey figure (13 yr) sits inside the CI and is cited via Wikipedia, not read at source. AKC page band (12-16) is not a median and is not used.

The dog at home

What the breed asks of a day. The first thing most homes get wrong.

Exercise need

Royal Kennel Club: up to 1 hour per day; suits a flat or apartment and a small to medium garden; town or country. AKC breed page score: energy level 3 of 5.

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

RKC band mapped to 60 min.

Exercise need

RKC: up to 1 hour per day; flat or apartment; small to medium garden; town or country. UKC: they prefer to have a job. Wikipedia: inactivity, lack of exercise and over-feeding are very harmful.

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

Band words from the RKC.

Energy

AKC breed page scores: energy level 3 of 5, mental stimulation needs 3 of 5, playfulness 4 of 5, trainability 4 of 5, barking level 4 of 5, watchdog/protective nature 5 of 5. FCI: an excellent small guard dog and exceptional alarm, bubbling with vitality, aloof with strangers, active, agile and tireless, very gentle with children, high-pitched bark. UKC: active, agile, tirelessly interested in their surroundings; aloof with strangers and gentle with children; prefer to have a job. AKC standard: curious, reserved with strangers, confident and independent.

Breed clubAKC

AKC scores are the AKC's own 1-5 bands, not a measurement.

Grooming load

3 of 5 · Royal Kennel Club: grooming more than once a week, medium coat length, sheds. AKC breed page: coat grooming frequency 2 of 5, shedding level 3 of 5.

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

RKC 'more than once a week' maps to 3 on the ruled scale. The AKC standard lets only the whiskers and the hair between the pads be trimmed.

Grooming

RKC: more than once a week, medium coat, sheds. AKC breed page: coat grooming frequency 2 of 5, shedding 3 of 5. AKC standard: natural breed, only the whiskers and between-pad hair may be trimmed.

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

Bands are the registries' own, not measurements.

The work

What it was built to do in the field, and what a test or trial asks of it.

Role

FCI 83: utilization 'small guardian and companion dog', Group 1 sheep and cattle dogs, Section 1 sheepdogs; the Schipperke has been renowned as a catcher of mice, rats, moles and other vermin since its 17th-century origin among cobblers and working people of Brussels. AKC standard: an agile, active watchdog and hunter of vermin. UKC: used for centuries as boat dogs, guarding barges and the urban craft shops of shoemakers and butchers; renowned catchers of mice, rats and other vermin. RKC: developed to keep down vermin on Belgian barges, and adept as a watchdog. AKC breed page: the traditional barge dog of the Low Countries. Wikipedia: only occasionally seen on barges, not its original function; the Flemish name can read 'little shepherd'; descends from the Leuvenaar, a black sheepdog.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2010

The registries (UKC, RKC, AKC page) say barge dog; FCI and Wikipedia say the breed is a small shepherd-type that was also a shop dog and ratter. Both stand.

Primary game

FCI: mice, rats, moles and other vermin. UKC: mice, rats and other vermin. AKC standard: vermin. RKC: vermin on barges.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2010

Moles are named by FCI only.

Search pattern

FCI: an inquisitive dog, always curious what is behind a closed door or a moved object, which will hunt rats, moles and other vermin; shows its reaction by a high-pitched bark, raised mane and hackles. UKC: excellent hunters of vermin; active, agile, tirelessly interested in their surroundings.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2010

Close-working ratter and alarm dog. No source reached states voice on the line in the field or pack versus single work.

Field trial standard

FCI 83: Group 1, Section 1, 'Without working trial.' No Earthdog or Barn Hunt eligibility is stated on any page read.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2010

Blank otherwise: no working standard found.

How common the problems are

Evaluated dogs skew toward breeding stock; the numbers are still the best there are.

Hip dysplasia

9.2% · OFA current all-data (accessed Oct 8 2026): 9.2% dysplastic of 813 evaluations (normal 90.0%; mild 8.0, moderate 1.1, severe 0.1)

MeasuredOrthopedic Foundation for Animals

OFA submissions skew to breeding stock; true population rate is likely higher. OFA all-data is undated.

Elbow dysplasia

6.6% · OFA current all-data (accessed Oct 8 2026): 6.6% abnormal of 183 evaluations (normal 93.4%; grade 1 4.9, grade 2 1.6, grade 3 0.0)

MeasuredOrthopedic Foundation for Animals

OFA submissions skew to breeding stock; true population rate is likely higher. OFA all-data is undated.

Most common disorders

Wikipedia: MPS IIIB (a recessive mutation, possibly in up to 15% of the breed, with a DNA test since 2003), luxating patella, Legg-Perthes disease, some tendency to epilepsy; rising inbreeding. RKC lists DNA tests for MPS IIIB and the T-box (bob tail) gene.

EditorialWikipedia

Editorial summary plus the RKC test list; no VetCompass paper read.

More

akc bands

AKC breed page trait scores (1-5): Energy Level 3; Mental Stimulation Needs 3; Trainability Level 4; Barking Level 4; Watchdog/Protective Nature 5; Good With Young Children 3; Openness To Strangers 3; Good With Other Dogs 3; Shedding Level 3; Coat Grooming Frequency 2; Drooling Level 1; Affectionate With Family 5; Playfulness Level 4; Adaptability Level 4.

Breed clubAKC

Fourteen AKC bands in one row; the selector reads each by name. Breed-club ratings: a tendency, never a measurement.

What to ask a breeder for

The health clearances the breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.

How to read this page

Every value carries a label. Measured means peer-reviewed data on many dogs. Studied means peer-reviewed, smaller or indirect. Breed club means a club or registry states it. Editorial means expert opinion with no measurement behind it. Where two good sources disagree, both are shown and neither is averaged.

Published when the entry rests on the best information available from no fewer than three independent sources, checked by a second pass that did not write it. 7 sources on this page. Found something wrong? Tell us and the correction is logged with its date.

Also called
Little Captain, Little Boatman, Belgian barge dog

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