Schipperke: Breed Guide: The Little Black Devil of Belgium
Everything you need to know about the Schipperke — from temperament to health, training to care.
Schipperke Daily Activity Breakdown
Trait
| Trait | Schipperke | Brussels Griffon | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 10–16 lbs | 8–10 lbs | Schipperke is larger |
| Coat | Abundant black double coat | Rough or smooth, red/black | Schipperke is always black |
| Temperament | Curious, confident, mischievous | Alert, curious, companionable | Schipperke more working drive |
| Exercise | 45–60 min daily | 30 min daily | Schipperke needs more |
| Trainability | Intelligent but independent | Intelligent, sensitive | Griffon more biddable |
| Origin | Belgium (barge dogs) | Belgium (ratting dogs) | Both Belgian, different purposes |
Schipperke Breed Guide Checklist
| Provide 45–60 min daily exercise — small body, huge energy reserves | |
| Secure yard with no gaps — escape artists will find any weakness | |
| Mental stimulation daily — puzzle toys, training, scent games | |
| Brush 2–3 times weekly — heavy seasonal shedding | |
| Early socialization — prevents excessive wariness of strangers | |
| Supervise around small pets — strong prey drive | |
| Underestimate their needs — 'small dog' ≠ 'low maintenance' | |
| Leave unsupervised in yard — they patrol and escape |
Schipperkes were bred as all-purpose barge dogs: ratters, watchdogs, and companions. They're fearless and believe they're much larger than they are. This confidence is charming but requires management — a Schipperke will challenge a dog 10 times their size without hesitation.
Schipperkes go through a unique coat change where the undercoat can become impacted if not brushed out. During seasonal shedding, daily brushing is essential. A 'lion cut' or shaving ruins the coat permanently. Hand-stripping or regular brushing maintains the correct harsh texture.
The Schipperke (SKIP-er-key) is a Belgian small breed that earned the nickname "little black devil" from boatmen on Belgian canals where they worked as ratters and watchdogs. They are curious, energetic, and seemingly unaware of their 10-16 pound size. Schipperkes have a fox-like face, a distinctive double coat that stands out around the neck and shoulders, and an independent intelligence that makes them entertaining -- and sometimes exasperating -- companions.
Personality and temperament
Schipperkes are confident, inquisitive, and mischievous. They investigate everything in their environment, learn quickly, and then apply what they've learned creatively (which often means figuring out how to open gates, reach countertops, and access anything interesting). They are devoted to their families but can be aloof with strangers and are reliable watchdogs that take their alert function seriously -- they will bark at unusual sounds with conviction.
They retain strong prey drive from their ratting history. Cats, rabbits, birds, and other small animals in the household may be seen as prey unless raised with them from puppyhood. Even Schipperkes socialized with household cats may chase neighborhood cats. Off-leash reliability in unfenced areas requires extensive training -- prey drive overrides recalls in many individuals.
Exercise and mental stimulation
Despite their small size, Schipperkes have working dog energy. They need 45-60 minutes of daily exercise plus mental enrichment. They excel at agility, flyball, earthdog trials (using their ratting instinct in a sport context), and competitive obedience. A Schipperke that doesn't get adequate mental and physical engagement will find its own entertainment -- usually at the expense of household items.
Training approach
Positive reinforcement training works well; Schipperkes are sensitive to correction and respond poorly to harsh methods. The challenge is consistency: Schipperkes are intelligent enough to test rules regularly and will reliably find and exploit any inconsistency. They do best with owners who find this amusing and maintain rules through positive reinforcement rather than confrontation. They learn quickly and can compete at advanced obedience levels -- they simply choose when to perform.
Coat care
The double coat sheds moderately year-round and heavily twice annually. Weekly brushing maintains the coat; daily during shedding seasons. The coat stands naturally due to its texture and abundance -- no trimming is required and the breed standard discourages it. The dense undercoat can be stripped (manually removed during shedding) to reduce shedding volume around the home.
Health concerns
Schipperkes carry a genetic disease unique to the breed: MPS IIIB (Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB), a lysosomal storage disease causing progressive neurological deterioration typically appearing at 2-4 years of age. Signs: balance problems, tremors, falling, and cognitive changes. A DNA test identifies carriers and affected dogs. Reputable breeders test all breeding animals. Ask for MPS IIIB test results before purchasing from any Schipperke breeder -- the test exists to eliminate this from the breed, and any responsible breeder will have current results.
Additional concerns: hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (hip joint abnormality in small breeds). Lifespan: 13-15 years.
Sources: AKC Schipperke Breed Standard; Schipperke Club of America; Merck Veterinary Manual; Bhatt et al. (2012) MPS IIIB research publication.