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General Appearance
Small, cobby, active dog, with sharp foxy expression.

Characteristic
Intensely lively and alert.

Temperament
Amenable, intelligent and faithful.

Head and Skull
Skull not round, but fairly broad, flat, with little stop. Muzzle moderate in length, fine but not weak, well filled under eyes. Nose black and small.

Eyes
Dark brown, more oval than round, not full; bright, most expressive.

Ears
Moderate length, not too broad at base, tapering to a point. Carried stiffly erect and strong enough not to be bent otherwise than lengthways.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck
Strong and full, rather short, set broad on shoulders, slightly arched.

Forequarters
Shoulders muscular and sloping. Legs perfectly straight, well under the body, bone in proportion to the body.

Body
Chest broad and deep in brisket. Back short, straight and strong. Loins powerful, well drawn up from brisket.

Hindquarters
Fine compared with forequarters; muscular and well developed thighs, well rounded rump. Legs strong, muscular, hocks well let down.

Feet
Small, cat-like, and standing well on the toes.

Tail
Previously customarily docked or may be born tailless.
Docked: Very short.
Undocked: Tightly curled, carried over the back. Well covered with hair.

Gait/Movement
Short, brisk stride, moving true fore and aft.

Coat
Abundant, dense and harsh; smooth on head, ears and legs; lying close on back and side; erect and thick round neck, forming a mane and frill; with good culottes on the back of thighs.

Colour
Usually black but other whole colours permissible.

Size
Weight about 5.5-7.5 kgs (12-16 lbs).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last Updated - September 2007

Glossary of Canine Terms

Health Information

The Kennel Club operates health screening schemes with other organisations.  Some are clinical veterinary screening schemes and some are DNA screening schemes, which may be relevant to this breed.

The current health screening requirements and recommendations for Kennel Club Accredited Breeders of this breed show what is required and recommended for the sire and dam of any litter of this breed bred by an Accredited Breeder.

Breed specific summary results from the Purebred Dog Health Survey in 2004 are available.  Individual summaries are only available where the breed response rate was greater than 15%.

Recommended Reading

All the below publications are available to order from the Online Shop.

Kennel Club Breed Standards Kennel Club Breed Standards are available for most breeds indicating the qualities which competition judges normally take into account and the standard or model which breeders endeavour to achieve. The Breed Standards can be purchased by group.

The Kennel Club Illustrated Breed Standards Containing full descriptive standards for 192 breeds, as well as representation for the six Kennel Club recognised breeds that are currently without standards, this beautifully illustrated volume is a must for all dog enthusiasts. This third edition has been completely revised and updated by a panel of experts and incorporates the very latest standards for breeds in each group.

Breed Clubs and Societies

• SCHIPPERKE CLUB. Sec: Mrs M Reed-Peck. Tel No: not available, please contact the Kennel Club 0870 606 6750

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Discover Dogs, Utility Group 

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