Schipperke -- Choosing The Breed Of Dog That's Right For You

Getting a dog can change your life. If you get a dog that is compatible with your lifestyle, it can be a very rewarding experience, but all dogs require love, attention, care and training, so before you make that decision, ask yourself these questions:

Do I have time to give a dog the attention it requires?
Do I have the ability to provide proper grooming, exercise and training for a dog?
Can I afford the expenses that come with a dog?
Do I have what it takes to be a strong pack leader?
Do I want to buy a dog from a breeder or adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue?


If, after answering the above questions, you decide to move forward with getting a dog, it would be wise to learn about the different breeds and their characteristics, personality/temperament, possible health conditions and exercise and grooming requirements in order to make an informed decision.

This article is a basic overview of one particular breed -- a Schipperke. Read on to decide if this breed of dog is compatible with your particular lifestyle.

History/Background: The Schipperke originated in the Flemish provinces of Belgium. It was not derived from the Spitz or Pomeranian but, rather, bred down from the Leauvenaar, a 40-pound black Belgian sheepdog that was commonly used to tend flocks in neighboring Louvain and follow the wagons along the old highways in the provinces of Belgium. It was bred down smaller and smaller to be a miniature watchdog. This breed was also used for herding livestock, hunting game or guarding its domain and also used as a "ratter" on canal barges and was usually the captain's dog. It does very well on boats and is not prone to seasickness. It makes a great guard dog.

It was known as a Spits dog or Spitske until the name "Schipperke" became official in 1888, which is Flemish for "little captain" or "little skipper," also said to mean "little shepherd." This breed was popular with workmen along the canals but also with shoemakers and other workmen. It is said that a shoemaker cut off the tail of his neighbor's dog because he was tired of its repeated thieving. As this improved the appearance of the dog, it is said that this is the reason why all Schipperkes' tails are cut off at a young age. (Contrary to popular belief, they are not always born without a tail.) The Schipperke was first imported in America in 1888.

Physical Characteristics: The Schipperke is a small dog with a square profile. It is 10-13 inches high at the shoulder and weighs 12-18 pounds. Its face is fox-like in appearance and has a mischievous, questioning and alert expression. It has small oval eyes that are dark brown. Its triangular-shaped ears are small and erect, and its nose is black. Its body structure and solid black color resemble a little bear. It is strong and solidly built, with a thick double coat and ruff around the neck. It is sometimes born tailless but, if born with a tail, the tail is docked.

Personality/Temperament: This breed of dog is very tolerant of children and other animals. It is curious and interested in everything around it. It is an excellent and faithful little watchdog, ready to protect its family and property if necessary and backs down from nobody. It can be reserved with strangers if not socialized well. This breed is confident, independent and mischievous. It is quick, energetic, high spirited, alert and agile, with a high prey drive, chasing anything that moves. It is very devoted and loyal, especially with children, and bonds to its master. It is very intelligent, eager to learn and easy to train, although can be difficult to housebreak. The Schipperke does exceptionally well on boats. It can develop behavior problems such as guarding, obsessive barking, separation anxiety, growling, snapping and even biting if not given proper pack leadership. It likes to howl and can be destructive if bored or left alone too much.

Possible Health Conditions: The Schipperke is relatively hardy but can have the following health conditions: Legg-Perthes syndrome, problems with the eyes such as entropion, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), distichiasis (an eyelash that arises from an abnormal spot on the eyelid of a dog) and cataracts, as well as hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and a newly discovered genetic mutation called MPS 111B. Life expectancy is about 15 years or more.

Exercise/Grooming: This breed is active and tireless and needs a daily long walk or jog. Its is fairly active indoors but does best if allowed to roam free in a fenced-in yard, although may try to escape. Grooming is fairly easy and requires a good brushing once a week with a firm bristle brush. It will "blow" its coat several times a year, losing the undercoat, which can last several days or weeks and can take 2-3 months go grow back, making it a moderate shedder. The toenails should be clipped. The teeth should be watched for decay. It can be dry shampooed when necessary.

Living Conditions: The Schipperke is a good dog for apartment life. It is very active indoors but does best with a fenced-in yard.

Summary: A Schipperke is an unusual-looking, relatively hardy little dog that makes an extremely keen watchdog and requires minimal grooming but is a moderate shedder with an extremely high activity level and needs strong pack leadership. So, now that you've learned a little about this breed of dog, one question remains -- Is a Schipperke the right breed for you?

By: Anita Funkhouser

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Anita Funkhouser is the owner of www.gogreendogbeds.com, offering high-quality, eco-friendly dog beds, toys and sweaters made from recycled materials, and pickofthelitterblog.wordpress.com/, a blog about various breeds of dogs. This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact.

Control Dog Barking

Is trying to control your dogs barking getting a bit of a pain when all you want to do is get a decent sleep, leave your dog for 5 minutes, or have some respected guests round without having to get the earplugs out?

Training your dog to stop barking doesn’t have to be stressful, no one likes the loud barking sound coming from your dog, especially at 3 in the morning so lets go through some tips to control dog barking.

1. Need Attention huh?

Don’t give your dog the attention he wants from barking at you. if I was getting everything I wanted just for barking id probably do it too. You’ve got to teach your dog that barking won’t get him anywhere. If he wants something wait till he has stopped barking first.

2. Time to bark yet?

If your dog barks when you leave the house, 8 times out of 10 it will be because you’re making to much fuss over them when you leave. Dogs can’t fully grasp the idea of saying goodbye and may find it upsetting when you give them cuddles and play then go out the door and leave for 8 hours while you’re in work. For a dog that’s a good enough reason to bark and howl the house down for you to come back and play. Try leaving the house without any fuss, Leave the house without drawing any attention to yourself and the barking will lessen and stop.

3. Bored with nothing to do!

Dogs enjoy barking, it’s something they like to do. The barking sound might not be completely to your taste but dogs enjoy it and it’s a completely natural thing for them, so if your dog has nothing to do in his spare time then barking passes the time like nothing else. Keep your dog busy with lots of exciting toys if he seems to bark a lot at night, something to chew and play with when you’re not around will help comfort the dog and keep him from barking and waking the neighbours. With nothing else to do your dog will bark through the night until you wake up.

4. Visitor time

When visitors come round it’s an exciting time for your dog, new faces, new smells and more attention than usual. This often causes dogs to bark, they want all the attention they can get in the form of cuddles and play time. You can solve this by using the ‘Stop’ command, teach him this and praise him when he listens to you and you should have no more problems with your over excited dog.

5. Be Consistent

Unfamiliarity can trigger your dogs barking off a lot of the time so keep constant with the times he barks most, for a lot of dog owners this is at night time. Decide where your dog or puppy sleeps. If one night your dog is out in the cold and the next he’s all snug and warm in bed with you or your kids you can guarantee he won’t want to be back out in the cold getting no attention from anyone again. Stick to consistency with your dog and you won’t go far wrong, otherwise you may be in for another sleepless night shouting at your dog.


For more information visit our dog training website at this link... Dog Training

Dog Behavior Training – Choosing a Good Family Dog

There comes a time in most home families when the children get a bit older and their dog or teddy is no longer the best thing in the world to play with, every new friend or existing friend your children make seems to have a cute little dog, and its only a matter of time before your children are going to start pestering you for one. So what should you look for is your serious about getting a family dog?

For starters your dog will need to be able to take everything your children can throw at it, children often don’t have any idea of how to handle a new pet dog so don’t expect them to play gently all the time, unknowing children have a tendency to be a little rough wile playing with dogs so a dog breed that can take some rough playing is essential.

Different dogs have different personalities just like humans do so be aware of this when purchasing a new dog, just because a dog breed is normally playful, energetic, and nice , this does not mean the one you get will be the same. Being prepared to put in work and time with your dog is also essential with a family dog because dog’s often take the things your children tell it to do as acceptable when this may not be the case, so dog behavior training will be needed at some point.

After considering the previous paragraphs I’m sure you will be pretty certain on whether you still want a dog for your home or not, if you do then here are some suggestions on different breeds that you may want to consider.

Golden Retriever. The golden retriever is a good popular choice for families because of their active and loyal personality and a good all round dog.

Boxer. Although the boxer may look big and intimidating to some, the boxer is a very good family dog in that they love being around people, they take care of the family members, and are always willing to play.

Labrador Retreiver. An extremely popular pet in many households across the world, the Labrador is a very friendly loving dog that loves to play and be very active for your kids to play with.

Beagle. The beagle is a very sturdy dog that can take plenty of roughness and playing, and loves to be active and meet new people. A very excited and curious dog that is great for family life.

Boston Terrier. The terrier is a gentle, well mannered dog and enjoys a challenge. Boston terriers are very easy to train and make for great family dogs and friends.

Irish Setter. A very affectionate dog, the Irish setter is a very good choice for families due to its liking for children and constant happy playful attitude.


For more information visit our dog training website at this link... Dog Training

Dog Health Care Tips To Keep Your Dog Healthy

There are many reasons why a dog is considered man's best friend. Dog owners build a lifelong trust and bond with their dogs. To keep your best friend happy you need to know and be able to recognize some warning signs and symptoms that can affect his health. Finding resources to help you with this can be invaluable.

To keep your dog healthy and happy requires being familiar with the type of breed and general care needed for that breed. A nice comprehensive book on dog health care is one of the things that you need to invest in order to obtain these details. Skin care and grooming are some of the basics you need to know to care for your dog. “How and when to give your dog a bath” will make the experience better for you and your dog.

Getting to know your veterinarian and becoming familiar with the services and treatments they offer, as well as the office hours and any emergency phone numbers is also a must. Most veterinarians these days are using natural dog health care practices to complement their traditional practice. Vets will let you know about the latest natural dog products to help maintain your dog's health, as well as advised you on which dog product is best for your dog according to his breed, size, and other characteristics. Different breeds of dogs have different preferences and health issues, and the vet can guide you in making owning the dog much easier.

Enquiring about vaccination programs and feeding methods according to the breed and age of the dog. These methods and programs differ greatly with grown dogs as opposed to puppies. Researching some background information on a dog you are going to get can help you prepare and plan ahead to help care and treat the dog.

A very important factor in your dog's health is to build up a good relationship with your vet. Vets are excellent when you need advice or in emergencies, but ultimately it is your responsibility as a dog owner for looking out for his health. A dog owner need to take note of any changes in eating habits, less activity than usual, or sleeping more than usual. Early discovery of problems along with quick attention from your vet can help insure, they get the proper medical attention.
Your responsibility as a pet owner is to keep your dog healthy to ensure a long life. Using your vet along with arming yourself with the right information on dog health care will help your dog live a long life.




Pet Caring Tips gives you best ideas to take care of your pets. You can also find the best dog care guide that makes your pet healthy.

Dog Training – Train a Dog to Fetch

The fetch game is probably the most popular and most used dog activity for rewarding your dog and giving him exercise at the same time. Giving your dog regular exercise is essential in keeping your dogs health up to scratch and helping them live a more exciting happy life.

Playing the fetch game with your dog is very easy and takes as much effort as you want to put into it. Simply take some form of ball, Frisbee, or stick and get your dogs attention with it, as soon as your dog has their eyes on the swinging stick, throw it as far as possible and command your dog to fetch the stick and pointing in the direction you threw it in with some enthusiasm to make it seem fun for your dog.

Dogs love this game and are happy to play it al day long with you, some dogs like the game more than others due to breed tendencies to please the owners. There are many different products available to help you with this command if you suffer from a bad back or similar and are incapable of bending down or throwing, this product is a long stick that cups the tennis ball and makes it easier to throw and pick up the ball.

This activity can be an energetic exercise for both you and your dog if you want it to be. Running around after your dog and throwing for your dog to fetch is a way used by many to keep fit and not just their dogs. A helpful two in one exercise to keep both parties healthy can’t be a bad choice!


For more information visit our dog training website at this link... Dog Training

Dog Training - Dog No Command

The ‘no’ command is a widely used command throughout dog training and is used to tell your dog not to do something or to stop them in their tracks to avoid dangerous situations or general bad behavior.

I think of the no command as more of a training technique rather than a command and to perfect the technique you will need to be consistent for most of your time with your pet dog. The no command isn’t like other commands and is taught over several years rather than a ‘learn it and forget it’ dog training technique.

You can start to teach your dog the no command as soon as you see your cute little puppy doing something wrong for the first time, to most people the command will come naturally when they see their dog causing terror in the house and it will not be too hard for them to remember how to execute the technique.

The no command should come part and parcel with punishing your dog, the idea behind the no command is to teach your dog that ‘no’ means bad behavior and punishment, after teaching this command the end result will be that your dog should stop whatever they are doing when you say ‘no’.

So to make this command work you will need to enforce and recite ‘no’ in a very assertive way whenever you are punishing your dog or see your dog behaving badly that will result in punishment. By doing this your dog will associate ‘no!’ with being punished and making you the owner, unhappy.

If you do this consistently through your dogs earlier years, especially when your dog is a puppy and very impressionable you will gain respect from your dog and just saying ‘no’ alone will be enough to stop your dog in its tracks and save you punishing your dog.


For more information visit our dog training website at this link... Dog Training

Dog Traiing - Stray Dogs

Hundreds if not thousands of stray dogs are found each year around the world with no one in sight and nowhere to go. These dogs are often in great danger whether it’s because of neglect on the owners’ behalf, or because of unforeseen circumstances causing the dog to become lost and scared.

What can be done in these situations can be a tricky choice, and a choice that will need to be done quickly. Simply driving past a suspected stray dog on the side of the road could end in the death of the dog minutes later.

What to do when you find a stray dog is different in almost every case, but there are guidelines to follow to help save the life of a scared stray, and put the mind of the loving owner at ease.

To begin you should always be aware that the dog in question may be very aggressive due to being scared, lost, and possibly very hungry, so approach with care. If you feel the dog is not a violent one then you should still be very careful not to startle or scare the dog in any way, a scared dog could easily run onto a busy road or dangerous area.

A good way to reassure the dog you are not there to harm them and to get them close is to use a strong smelling food such as tuna or other dog favourites as well as speaking gently and calmly to the dog.

When you finally get the dog under control and have no fears of aggressive behavior, reassuring the dog by stroking and talking to them will make it easier for others to deal with them. If you have leash or any other form of dog control with you then try and secure the dog with them, still being careful not to scare the dog.

When you have successfully captured the dog or if you have had other problems making it difficult to capture then you should phone for help from the local animal care or control authority to ensue the correct procedures are met and the safety of the animal will be secure.


For more information visit our dog training website at this link... Dog Training

Dog Years Human Years

The life expectancy of any dog is commonly expressed in terms of dog years by us and it depends entirely on the dog's breed, size as well as the dog's surroundings. Various other factors affect the life expectancy of a dog. A dog's life span changes according to the diet provided to him and also by the number of medical problems the dog tends to face over the years.

The average life span of the small dog like Chihuahua is about 15 to 16 years, while medium sized the dogs like Border Collies have a life span of 10 to 13 years. It can be noticed big dogs like Great Dean live up to only 7 to 8 years. The calculation of the life expectancy of particular dog can be accurately done with the help of "size or the specific breed calculator", which is said to be one of the most accurate age measurement schemes available. The size or specific breed calculator gives approximate results about the dog's predictable lifespan based on the size as well as the breed of the dog.

It is generally assumed that, on an average, "one human year equals to seven dog years". This statement may not be appropriate, since the first two years are jointly represented by 18-25 years in such schemes and because the entire ratio cannot be generalized for all the dogs though, they belong to different sizes and breeds. An exact ratio of dog years vs. human year cannot be formulated. However, some obvious features remain similar between both aging humans and dogs.

It is generally assumed that the human equivalent of a one-year dog is supposedly fully grown by both mental and physical aspects. Dogs like humans tend to develop advance muscular features as they grow along with a similar mental development. Through a major dog study, it has been estimated for dogs of all breeds and sizes that, nearly "64 percent of dogs" were euthanized because they were affected with some kind of diseases. Only 8 percent of the total dogs live beyond 15 years and nearly 16 percent of them die yearly due heart diseases and cancer. Human lives are not terminated even if they suffer from rare and incurable diseases; and this is the main reason why the lifespan of an average human being is reasonably long.

The effects of aging in dogs is said to be dormant for several years. But like humans, dogs to undergo physical changes as well. The first sign of aging in dogs is said to be the decrease in its activity levels. The sleeping period in these dogs also becomes longer. The canines experience a drastic change in their skin condition, limb usage, appetite and they experience tooth loss as well. Their sense of hearing and vision also diminishes gradually. Older dogs tend to experience stiffness in their body. All these obvious signs of aging can even be found in humans. The human years are extended only because of advance modern medicine and various other drugs that are designed to deal with symptoms of old age.

Dogs and humans may not have the same physiology, yet some obvious similarities can be noticed when both species age. Dog years and Human years may not be directly related by some advance equation, but to the naked eye the equivalence of corresponding features of Dog years and Human years are quite visible.

Now that you know dogs grow old faster than we do, learn how to care for your dogs the best you can and give them a good life. They deserve it. Learn more at: http://www.2knowabout.com/dog/how_to_care_for_a_dog_with_a_broken_leg.php

Winter Dog Agility Training

Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.



Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it. Bring in one piece of equipment at a time, and begin your indoor training.



We do a lot of indoor training with a Pause Table. In fact, we keep one in our living room for both obedience training and agility training all the time. The Pause Table is a great obstacle for developing your obedience behaviors and teaching agility directional commands



Don't forget to work on your contacts. It's easy by having a Contact Trainer indoors. A 3-Piece Contact Trainer offers you versatility; you have an A-frame side, the Pause Table, and a Dog-walk plank. Practicing your two feet on and two feet off is convenient and quick when you have indoor contacts, only a few minutes a day to steady your dog's behavior.



Indoor jumping must be approached carefully. If you don't have indoor matting, don't jump. You don't want your dog jumping on concrete or wood floors. But you can use the uprights or posts to practice your handling. Use your Sit-stay or Down-stay and practice your lines or dogs path with no jump bars.



Weaves can be practice indoors. Are you training with a weave-chute or straight line weaves? Five minutes a day of weave training through out the winter will have your dog weaving smoothly by springtime. You can practice weave entries and weave sends or weave recalls.



There is also a variety of mini agility equipment that can be purchased, and don't require the same space as standard equipment. There are mini-teeters, mini-dog walks, and mini-A-frames. These are great obstacles for puppy training or indoor winter training.



So, during the cold winter months, don't give up on your agility training. Whether you are starting a young pup, working a novice dog, or an experienced titled dog there is always something that you can do indoors with your agility training.

About the Author: Brad Carlson is a Dog Trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit our website at http://www.carlson-agility.com/

When Dog Training Really Matters

Dogs can be very sociable. In fact, they sometimes get too sociable and get aggressive. That is why it is important to train the dogs to control their behavior.



Moreover, dog trainings are important to avoid dog biting incidents. Statistics show that 77% of dog biting cases are mostly those that are within the family.



Hence, with dog training, bad habits are removed and dogs have better control with their feelings and behavior towards environmental and social variables.



However, implementing dog training is not that easy. Certain things must be employed to have positive results. The thing needed in dog training is what most experts define as ?positive reinforcement.? This refers to the way people reward their dogs with treats, praises, or both whenever their dogs show positive behavior.



Through positive reinforcements, dogs will be able to comprehend that treats and praises will come whenever he shows good behavior. For example, when the owner gives his dog some treats for obediently obeying his commands, the dog will think that obeying commands when told equals treats.



But this does not necessarily mean that when the dog did not obey the owner?s commands, punishment is needed as counter-reinforcement. This should not be the case because punishments will only make the matter worst.



What will happen is that the dog will be confused and it will begin to doubt your feelings.



The next thing that humans must remember when training their dogs is that people should avoid training their dogs into bad habit. Actually, many people are not aware they are doing this but there are instances wherein the people?s reaction towards some behavior of the dogs will inadvertently train the dog in a bad way.



For example, when dogs bark, it is common especially when they do that because they see something strange or unfamiliar things. But, when dogs continue to bark, even if it includes a familiar person, that becomes a problem.



In this case, most people have the inclination to yell and tell their dogs to shut up. This particular reaction of dog owners will confuse their dogs and will only make them understand that the reason why their owners are yelling is because they are also enjoying the shouting scene and that they are ?barking? along with their dogs.



The key point here is to avoid paying attention to the dog. In time, he will stop. It?s when the owners should reward their dogs.



Boiled down, dog training is all about positive reinforcements. And, as they say, positive reinforcements reap positive results.

About the Author: Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/