(05-07-2015, 01:59 AM)kfander Wrote: I will probably not be getting a dog, but if I were to get a dog, I'd like to have a Schipperke. Although they are a small breed, they have a wild look about them that I find attractive.
Schipperkes are great little dogs and have a long life-span of 15 years. They aren't the most popular breed, so they haven't been over-bred like some other breeds.
One of my neighbors has a Schipperke and my Chihuahua's go nuts barking at it, when she walks by. They're small in stature, but big on personality. Generally, they have a good temperament.
The name Schipperke comes from the Flemish word for 'littleskipper' or 'little captain of the boat'. They were originally bred in Belgium and used for eliminating rats and mice on boats and barges, and also guarded empty boats. They also provided companionship.
Shop owners had the dogs around to guard their stores. For some strange reason, they were popular with shoemakers!
![[Image: schipperke.jpg]](http://www.miscellaneousstuff.net/schipperke.jpg)
