Collection: Personalised Schipperke Gifts

Not sure whether it is a Spitz or a sheepdog, the Schipperke is a pretty rare breed little known outside its native country of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium.

If you have read the Beatrix Potter stories then you will have encountered a Schipperke in the tale called ‘The Pie and Patty Pan’. Often called the LBD or Little Black Devil, the colour comes from his ancestor a black sheepdog called a Leauvenaar. This small smart black dog is full of character and fun

The Schipperke is reputed to be bred from the Black Sheepdog in Belgium called the Leauvenaar and was developed to be a watchdog on the canal boats that traded between Antwerp and Brussels.

The Schipperke had one of the first speciality dog shows as far back as 1690 when members of the shoemakers guild were called upon to display their Shipperkes in the Grand Palace of Brussels.

The Schipperke name was created when the breed club was formed in 1888, before that, they were known as the Spits dog or the Spitske. Schipperke means ‘little shepherd’ or ‘little captain’ which covers both of their roles either in a farming or a boating environment.

Queen Marie Henriette saw a Schipperke at a dog show in 1885 and boosted the popularity of the breed with her patronage. The dog was exported to the US not long after that with the first breed club formed in 1905 followed by the Schipperke Club of America in 1929.

Clever, devoted to his owners and very versatile, the Schipperke really does believe he is a large dog trapped in a smaller body. He is intelligent and feisty and still patrols his territory even if it is just to keep his family safe. A late-maturing breed, the Schipperke enjoys regular exercise but will require also plenty of mental stimulation and engagement when he is at home. Smart and bright, the Schipperke makes a great family pet and is good with children.