Schipperke Body and Topline
The Schipperke is a cobby, black tailless dog that is square in profile and thickset. He has a coat which includes a standout ruff, cape and culottes. Males are masculine without being coarse and females are feminine without being too refined. The suggested height at the withers is 11 to 13 inches for males and 10 to 12 inches for females. Quality should always take precedence over size.
The neck is moderate in length and slightly arched in balance the rest of the dog. This gives the correct silhouette.
The topline is level or slightly sloping from the withers to the croup. The ruff adds to the slope making the dog seem slightly higher at the withers than the rump.
The body is broad and deep and reaches down to the elbows. The ribs are well sprung and are wide behind the shoulders and taper down to the sternum. The Forechest extends in front of the shoulder between the front legs. A schipperke should have a short loin and should be muscular and is moderately drawn up. The croup is broad, well rounded with a docked tail. The standard does not allow a female to be longer in body than a male. The shoulders are well laid back with the front legs coming straight down from the body when looking at the dog from the front. The legs are placed well under the body when looking at the dog from the side. The pasterns are thick, short and strong but are flexible when looking at the dog from the side. The feet are small round and tight with the nails being short strong and black. The rear appears slightly lighter than the front but is well muscled and in balance with the front. The hocks are well let down and stifles are well bent. Extreme angulation is penalized. The real legs extend straight down from the hip thought the hock to the feet. Rear dewclaws are removed.
Schipperke
Illustrations
MPSIIIB
in Schipperkes
