Are you looking for the perfect companion dog to tag along in your sea escapades? Look no further for the Schipperke is the right partner for you. This dog is not prone to sea sickness and is agile, brave and reliable even on board.

This small breed of dog is of Belgian origins and said to have first appeared during the early 16th century. Its body is thickset, round and compact and its face resembles that of a fox. All Schipperkes must be of color black and that other shades are considered disqualifications.

Aside from this dark color, there are other remarkable physical features of the Schipperke, too. For instance, its coat is rather unique as it forms a ruff, cape and culottes for the dog. The ruff lusciously wraps around its neck down to its back which gives an impression of an elegant fur coat.

The ears of the Schipperke are small, erect and pointed and its tail is remarkably docked. Most of Schipperkes, however, are either born without a tail or with a very short one. What breeders do is that months after their birth, the tails are docked or in case of Canada and US, the tails are docked right after birth.

This dog is a moderate shedder, has a luscious and fluffy undercoat, and a coarse and long topcoat. The topcoat is always black while the undercoat may be slightly lighter. Grooming this dog requires weekly brushing and regular trimming.

Also called the “Tasmanian Black Devil” or the “little black devil”, the Schipperke is one headstrong, independent and hardheaded little creature. It is overflowing with energy, very inquisitive and when it is hit with boredom, it destroys things it finds interesting. Sometimes, when the master gives orders, it intentionally ignores or refuses the must to obey.

The name Schipperke was supposedly an old English term meaning “little sailor”. Interestingly, however, new studies revealed that “schipperke” is a term borrowed from the Dutch word “schapocke” or “scheperke” meaning “little shepherd”. In fact, this breed has a striking resemblance with the Groenendael or the Belgian Sheepdog.

The English sailors mistook the Schipperke as a Dutch barge dog as it was often seen before working in barges in the canals, hunting vermin, securing the vessel (they bark vigorously) and helping men tow some reluctant horses aboard. In the USA, this breed is popularly called the Belgian Barge Dog or the Belgian Ship Dog. Moreover, during WWII, the Belgian Resistance used this breed as messengers towards hideouts and cells and went undetected until the end of war.

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