Schipperke

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Schipperke" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Schipperke
Schipperke ready for action.
Common nicknames	Spitzke (until 1888) Spits (until 1888) Spitske (until 1888) Little Black Devil (Belgium) Little Captain (Flemish)
Origin	Belgium
Traits Height Males 33.6 cm (13.2 in) average Females 31.2 cm (12.3 in) average Weight 3–9 kg (6.6–19.8 lb) Coat Double, low shed Colour Black (common) or Cream (rare) or Red/Liver (very rare) Litter size 3–7[citation needed] Life span 13–16 yrs average, some longer
Kennel club standards Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Notes	Breed Family: Spitz The Institute of Canine Biology DNA study on the Schipperke found the dog to be in the Spitz line --[1] American Kennel Club, Schipperke breed info, Official AKC Standard of the Schipperke General Appearance Cutting off tails ("docking") is illegal in most of Europe. Cream and liver-colored Schipperkes may not currently participate in most shows.
Dog (domestic dog)

A Schipperke (/ˈskɪpərkiː/; Dutch: [ˈsxɪpərkə]) is a small breed of dog that is believed to have originated in the 1600s in Flanders.^[2][3] There has been a long informal debate over whether this type of dog is a spitz or miniature sheepdog. In their home country of Belgium they are considered a small shepherd.^[4] DNA research has shown that Schipperkes have a close relationship to the Spitz family of dog breeds.^[1]