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Tags: dogs, pets, raising, schipperke
 This beautiful dog breed was said to have originated from Belgium. In the early days, only the elite (royalty and rich folks) were allowed to own big dogs. The commoners didn't think it was fair, but bred a smaller pooch anyway to serve as a working dog. The result of whatever breeds they decided to use as their test dummies was a small and cute animal – it weighed from 10 to 18 pounds, and stood only 10 to 13 inches from foot to shoulder.
It was compact and had a “boxy” build. The ears were erected and pointy, standing almost as long as the height of its face. That physical feature coupled with its black coat made many people perceive it as a fox crossbred with a bear, which fell off a cliff landing on its feet, giving its short and somewhat stout build – in short, it's irresistibly cute.
With its small build came a responsibility that would be expected from a cat – that is to hunt down and kill rats. Being tiny does have its advantages, such as being able to run through tables and chairs quickly without knocking down everything in its path or squeezing into tight places.
A very agile dog with a good sense of smell, making this an ideal rat hunting dog. The Schipperke was used on many boats to protect cargo from the little vermin. Its outer coat was water resistant, so it didn't have much problems with the damp weather it had to put up with.
It did its job well, so don't be surprised if you see this pooch on board many other boats. Boat people aren't the only ones who know of its unique hunting ability – farmers found out about it too. You can see this breed on many farms, retaining its purpose as a pro rat killer.
They also made good watch dogs; this is because they possess the natural protective instinct, which made them grow suspicious of strangers that shouldn't be there. Farmers know that their trusty walking alarms would alert them of any unauthorized individuals on the premises with a sound bark. Aside from these two professions stated, the Schipperke makes a great house pet.
Because of their small and compact build, they are well-suited for indoor living. Your family will love its playful and sweet nature - it loves human companionship and pleasing its masters. The tendency to bond with one member of the family more than it does with the others is to be expected.
Raising a Schipperke should be done at birth to root out any unwanted behavior and fix it before it gets any worse. Feeding it with the nutritional diet as prescribed by your veterinarian or “manual” you've downloaded from the net is a must. Have it go on daily walks or short jogs to comply with its exercise needs.
If ever you decide to keep it outdoors, have fences put up to keep it from wandering off and getting lost, which happens to be part of its many habits. The Schipperke is very well-rounded and will be compatible with numerous lifestyles and environmental conditions. Raising one as a pet wouldn't be difficult, rather fun and very rewarding.
About the author
Alex De La Cruz is a successful Dog Trainer who has been advising and coaching dog owners for many years. Alex now decided to share his knowledge through this site, Doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter and learn how to keep your dog healthy and happy.
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