Temperament
Curious, Confident, Alert, Mischievous.
Health problems to know about
- Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (DNA test available)
- Patellar luxation
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- Epilepsy
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
About an hour of exercise a day plus puzzles and games, behind secure fencing: Schipperkes are escape artists. Brush weekly and daily during moults. Ask breeders for MPS IIIB test results.
A good fit for
Active households, families with older children, flats with daily walks, people who want a small watchdog.
Probably not ideal for
Close neighbours, homes with pet rodents, owners wanting a quiet lap dog.
Sources
Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.
