Breed Standards Around The World

U.S.A.

Schipperke Breed Standard
Non-Sporting Group

General Appearance
The Schipperke is an agile, active watchdog and hunter of vermin. In appearance he is a small, thickset, cobby, black, tailless dog, with a fox-like face. The dog is square in profile and possesses a distinctive coat, which includes a stand-out ruff, cape and culottes. All of these create a unique silhouette, appearing to slope from shoulders to croup. Males are decidedly masculine without coarseness. Bitches are decidedly feminine without over-refinement.

Any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Schipperke as in any other breed, even though such faults may not be specifically mentioned in the standard.

Size--The suggested height at the highest point of the withers is 11-13 inches for males and 10-12 inches for bitches. Quality should always take precedence over size. Proportion--Square in profile. Substance--Thickset.

Head
Expression--The expression is questioning, mischievous, impudent and alert, but never mean or wild. The well proportioned head, accompanied by the correct eyes and ears, will give the dog proper Schipperke expression.
Skull--The skull is of medium width, narrowing toward the muzzle. Seen in profile with the ears laid back, the skull is slightly rounded. The upper jaw is moderately filled in under the eyes, so that, when viewed from above, the head forms a wedge tapering smoothly from the back of the skull to the tip of the nose. The stop is definite but not prominent. The length of the muzzle is slightly less than the length of the skull.

Eyes The ideal eyes are small, oval rather than round, dark brown, and placed forward on the head.

Ears--The ears are small, triangular, placed high on the head, and, when at attention, very erect. A drop ear or ears is a disqualification. Nose--The nose is small and black. Bite--The bite must be scissors or level. Any deviation is to be severely penalized.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck--The neck is of moderate length, slightly arched and in balance with the rest of the dog to give the correct silhouette. Topline--The topline is level or sloping slightly from the withers to the croup. The stand-out ruff adds to the slope, making the dog seem slightly higher at the shoulders than at the rump. Body--The chest is broad and deep, and reaches to the elbows. The well sprung ribs (modified oval) are wide behind the shoulders and taper to the sternum. The forechest extends in front of the shoulders between the front legs. The loin is short, muscular and moderately drawn up. The croup is broad and well-rounded with the tail docked. No tail is visually discernible.

Forequarters
The shoulders are well laid back, with the legs extending straight down from the body when viewed from the front. From the side, legs are placed well under the body. Pasterns are short, thick and strong, but still flexible, showing a slight angle when viewed from the side. Dewclaws are generally removed. Feet are small, round and tight. Nails are short, strong and black.

Hindquarters
The hindquarters appear slightly lighter than the forequarters, but are well muscled, and in balance with the front. The hocks are well let down and the stifles are well bent. Extreme angulation is to be penalized. From the rear, the legs extend straight down from the hip through the hock to the feet. Dewclaws must be removed.

Coat Pattern--The adult coat is highly characteristic and must include several distinct lengths growing naturally in a specific pattern. The coat is short on the face, ears, front of the forelegs and on the hocks; it is medium length on the body, and longer in the ruff, cape, jabot and culottes. The ruff begins in back of the ears and extends completely around the neck; the cape forms an additional distinct layer extending beyond the ruff; the jabot extends across the chest and down between the front legs. The hair down the middle of the back, starting just behind the cape and continuing over the rump, lies flat. It is slightly shorter than the cape but longer than the hair on the sides of the body and sides of the legs. The coat on the rear of the thighs forms culottes, which should be as long as the ruff. Lack of differentiation in coat lengths should be heavily penalized, as it is an essential breed characteristic.

Texture--The coat is abundant, straight and slightly harsh to the touch. The softer undercoat is dense and short on the body and is very dense around the neck, making the ruff stand out. Silky coats, body coats over three inches in length or very short harsh coats are equally incorrect.

Trimming--As the Schipperke is a natural breed, only trimming of the whiskers and the hair between the pads of the feet is optional. Any other trimming must not be done.

The outercoat must be black. Any color other than a natural black is a disqualification. The undercoat, however, may be slightly lighter. During the shedding period, the coat might take on a transitory reddish cast, which is to be penalized to the degree that it detracts from the overall black appearance of the dog. Graying due to age (seven years or older) or occasional white hairs should not be penalized.

Gait
Proper Schipperke movement is a smooth, well coordinated and graceful trot (basically double tracking at a moderate speed), with a tendency to gradually converge toward the center of balance beneath the dog as speed increases. Front and rear must be in perfect balance with good reach in front and drive in the rear. The topline remains level or slightly sloping downward from the shoulders to the rump. Viewed from the front, the elbows remain close to the body. The legs form a straight line from the shoulders through the elbows to the toes, with the feet pointing straight ahead. From the rear, the legs form a straight line from the hip through the hocks to the pads, with the feet pointing straight ahead.

Temperament
The Schipperke is curious, interested in everything around him, and is an excellent and faithful little watchdog. He is reserved with strangers and ready to protect his family and property if necessary. He displays a confident and independent personality, reflecting the breed's original purpose as watchdog and hunter of vermin.

Disqualifications
A drop ear or ears.
Any color other than a natural black.

Approved November 13, 1990
Effective January 1, 1991

THE FCI OR BELGIUM STANDARD

SCHIPPERKE

TRANSLATION : Mrs Peggy Davis

ORIGIN : Belgium

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 19.05.1988

UTILIZATION :Watchdog and Companion, can be used for hunting.

FCI'S CLASSIFICATION : Group 1 Shepherd and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
Section 1 Sheepdogs
Without Working Trial

GENERAL APPEARANCE - APTITUDES : Excellent and faithfull little guard dog, wary of strangers. Active, agile, tireless, always busy with what goes on around him, very protective of objects given to him to guard, very kind with children, knows the ways of the household, always curious to know what goes on behind a door or an object which is going to be moved, betraying his impressions by his sharp bark and upstanding ruff; seeks the company of horses, hunts moles and other vermins; can be used to hunt, indicates rabbit warrens, chases these and the hare in the copse.

COLOUR : All black.

HEAD : Fox-like. Forehead quite broad, narrowing towards the eyes; seen in profile, is slightly rounded; muzzle pointed, not too long, not too much stop.

NOSE : Small.

EYE : Dark brown, full, more oval than round, neither sunken or too prominent, lively and piercing.

EARS : Stiffly erect, small, triangular, placed high; lobes strong enough, so that they cannot fold other than lengthwise, excessively mobile, closer to each other when erect.

TEETH : Perfectly adapted.

NECK : Strong, carried upright.

BODY : Short and stocky.

SHOULDERS : Oblique and mobile.

CHEST : Broad on the front, broad behind the shoulders and deep, belly quite tucked up.

BACK : Straight, horizontal, looks higher in front because of the ruff.

LOIN : Broad and strong.

LEGS : Perfectly straight and well under the body, fine boned.

FEET : Small, round and tight; the nails straight, strong and short, not claw like.

THIGHS : Very broad, long and well muscled, hocks low to the ground.

TAIL : No tail.

COAT : Abundant and harsh to the touch, smooth on the ears, short on the head, the front of the legs and the hocks; quite short on the body, but longer around the neck, starting from the outer edge of the ears; forms a ruff and jabot; extending down between the front legs; also longer on the back of the thighs, where it forms culottes of which the points turn inwards.

WEIGHT : a) From 3 to 5 kg
b) From 5 to 8 kg

Dogs weighing less than 3 kg. and those weighing more than 9 kg will not be given awards at shows.

FAULTS : Light eye, ears too long or rounded, narrow head and elongated, or bulging or too short, not enough coat, wavy or silky, absence of ruff and culotte, coat too long, badly set teeth.

DISQUALIFICATIONS : Semi-erect ears, white hairs from birth, prognathism (overshot or undershot).

N.B.: Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

THE ENGLISH STANDARD

CANADIAN STANDARD

Origin and Purpose:  The Schipperke is thought to have originated in the Flemish Province of Belgium from the native black sheep dogs now believed to be extinct, the Leauvennar, from which the Groendael Belgian Sheep Dog has also probably evolved.  The Schipperke may lay claim to being one of the oldest purebreds in Europe, for in 1690, a show for the Schipperkes of the Guild Workmen was held in the Grand Place of Brussels.  The Schipperke is an excellent and faithful little watchdog; a hunter of moles and other vermin.  He seeks the company of horses, can be used to hunt, and is a good rabbit dog.  

General Appearance:  The Schipperke should have a short, thickset cobby body, with hindquarters slightly lighter than the foreparts.  The head is fox-like, and the expression is questioning, sharp and lively.  Not mean or wild.  The distinctive black coat, ruff, and tailless rump give a unique silhouette to this small dog.

Temperament:  The Schipperke is active, agile, indefatigable, and continually occupied with what is going on around him.  He is careful of things that are given to him to guard, very kind with children, and suspicious of strangers.  He knows the way of the household, is always curious of what is going on behind closed doors, or about any object that has been moved, betraying his impressions by his sharp bark and upstanding ruff.  

Size:  12 - 18 lbs. (5.5 - 8 kg's.)  

Coat and Color:  The coat must be black, abundant, and slightly harsh to the touch.  Short on the ears, front of the legs, and on the hocks, fairly short on the body, but longer around the neck, beginning back of the ears, and forming a ruff and cape, which gives the appearance of the withers being higher than the hindquarters, and a jabot extending down between the front legs.  The coat is longer on the rear, where it forms a culotte, with the points turning inwards.  The undercoat is dense and short on the body, and very dense around the neck, making the ruff stand out.  The culotte should be as long as the ruff.  

Head:  

Skull:       Fairly wide, narrowing at the eyes.  When the ears are up in the alert position, the correct skull in profile will appear flat.   Muzzle:   Tapering, but not too much stop.  The length of the muzzle from tip to stop is equal to the length of the skull from the stop to the occiput.   Nose:  Small and black.   Mouth:     Teeth strong and even.  A level or scissors bite is acceptable.  Eyes:       Very dark brown, small, oval rather than round, neither sunken nor prominent. Ears: Very erect, small and triangular, placed high.  Strong enough not to be capable of being lowered except in line with the body.

Neck:  Strong and full, slightly arched.

Forequarters:  Shoulders muscular and sloping.  Legs straight and well under the body, with bone in proportion to the body.  Pasterns’ straight.

Body:  Back strong, short, straight, and level.  Chest broad and deep in the brisket, ribs well sprung, broad behind the shoulders.  Loin muscular and well drawn up from the brisket, but not to such an extent as to cause a weak and leggy appearance of the hindquarters.  Croup slightly sloping.  Rump well rounded.  

Hindquarters:  Lighter than the foreparts, but muscular and powerful.  Thighs muscular and powerful.  Hocks well defined.  Metatarsus short.  Feet small, round, and tight (not splayed).  Nails straight, strong and short.  

Tail:  Docked to no more than 1 inch (3 cm's) in length.  

Gait:  Unrestricted, free and vigorous.  The Schipperke is tireless and quick to move in any direction.  In a correctly proportioned and angulated Schipperke at a trot, the feet and legs converge as seen from the front or the rear, and each hind foot falls on or ahead of the print of the forefoot. 

Faults:  Any deviation from the Standard is considered a fault.

Disqualifications:  Any color other than solid black, drop or semi-erect ears, overshot or undershot mouth.

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