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The Schipperke is not
as widely known as other popular family pet to
include the Collie or Poodle. However, this small,
compact dog can be an excellent companion in the
right home. Schipperkes can be strong-willed and
they are certainly quite intelligent, so early
obedience training is highly recommended.
The breed has always been a working dog, guarding
and herding in the home, the shop or on a boat. In
fact, the Schipperke is well known as a boat dog in
its native Belgium and other areas of northwestern
Europe. The dog is generally very loyal to the owner
and to family members, while being slow to warm up
to strangers. Some owners report that their
Schipperke acts like a large dog in a small dog’s
body. Some use terms such as fearless and courageous
to describe their companion.
A well-behaved
Schipperke will begin its life with a reputable
breeder that spends time socializing the young dogs.
This time and effort in the first 8 to 10 weeks of
life will go a long way toward making sure that a
pet will be comfortable in its new home. If a new
owner purchases his dog from a good breeder and then
continues with firm and consistent obedience
training, the dog/owner relationship can be a great
one.
Perhaps the best way to give new owners an idea
about the challenges of owning and training a
Schipperke is to tell the story of one such dog.
An owner reports that his impish little pet is
usually connected with certain missing items such as
a slipper or other small item. When caught in the
act, the Schipperke looks as innocent as possible
and stays still, as if say “not guilty.” Beyond
that, the Schipperke is a very quick, compact dog
that can seemingly disappear when trouble arises.
With this picture in mind, new owners may want to be
prepared for some basic obedience training.
Enlisting the help of a professional may be
necessary, though it is recommended that the owner
remain involved. This will help when the move is
made from training to the home. Consistency is a key
in training the Schipperke.
New owners may want to consider possible problem
actions with any purebred dog. The Schipperke can be
strong-willed and even stubborn at times. It may be
best to be prepared for such things as the dog
staying just out of reach when it’s time to go
somewhere or when the dog is in trouble. Your
Schipperke may stubbornly hang onto objects it is
not supposed to have. After all, this breed
sometimes acts like a terrier, though the breeds may
not be related.
Perhaps you will find that your Schipperke gets back
at you after being scolded or disciplined. This may
involve tearing up something in the house or even
going to the bathroom inside, when the pet is
already housetrained. Keep in mind that some of
these behaviors result when the dog gets the idea it
is higher in the “pack” order than the owner is.
That is why it is so important to establish who is
boss. This “pack” order must be put in place when
the dog is still a puppy. The breeder can contribute
greatly to this process by spending time with the
dogs in the first weeks of life.
The learning process does not require the owner to
be mean or even harsh. Firmness and consistency are
the keys to basic obedience with any new dog. In
fact, many canine experts emphasize that dogs are
pack animals and get their security from knowing
exactly where they stand in the order. A better
pet/owner relationship will result from paying
careful attention to this need.
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