The Schipperke

So, Wookie is a Schipperke. But what’s a Schipperke?

It looks like this:

The Schipperke in the picture above is Cobe van de Moesdongen, Wookie’s father.

As you can see in the picture, Cobe doesn’t have a tail. Nowadays, all Schipperkes bred in Belgium have a tail, since docking is prohibited since 2006 due to the ratification of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. The Schipperke’s tail is rather long, and it’s worn in a curl on the back of their back. Usually docking had a reason: either practically or esthetically. In the Schipperke’s case, the former is correct. A tail is somewhat a weak point, another animal can bite it.

The Schipperke’s history is not to be found on the water, as it’s name may suggest, but in the cities. The word “Schipperke” has long been mistaken for “little sailor”, the literal meaning in Dutch. Later on was discovered that Schipperke actually meant “little sheepdog”, “scheperke” in Dutch, but mispronounced, leading to the mix-up. The Schipperke is indeed the littlest sheepdog in the world.

As said, Schipperkes are Belgians, and their known history goes back to the 17th century. The Schipperke was typical of Brussels, it lived amongst the people and it was especially popular with leather workers. They used their Schipperke to show off their craftsmanship by making them brass or leather collars.
Also, Schipperkes were sometimes used as vermin catchers in the fields, because they are very fast and nimble animals.

These little guys do have a big ego however. They love to pretend they’re big, and they’re very active. Schipperkes notice everything, and when they think something’s going on, they immediately intervene one way or another. As a guard dog they can be interesting too, since they don’t hesitate to bark if something seems wrong. They don’t really like strangers, but if a Schipperke is socialized the way it should, they won’t get aggressive. You can always try and make it less nervous, but I’m almost certain you won’t be able to turn it into a lap dog!

Schipperkes have a black double coat. Underneath the stiff upper layer there is a fuzzy undercoat. Schipperkes need grooming almost daily, especially when they’re shedding their coat. They loose their undercoat two times a year, resulting in loose hairs in the upper layer.

Schipperkes are friends for life. They usually get about 13 to 15 years old.