Here is a quaint Dutch little dog which since its introduction into this country, about four years ago, has become one of ourselves, and I fancy will now stay with us and develop into one of our British dogs as the Italian greyhound and the German boarhound have done. Pronounced "Skipperkee," when at home, he is found in the Dutch canal boats, where with the captain he rules the crew, hence his name. He there acts as a careful watch and guard, will kill rats when required so to do, and generally proves himself to be an engaging little companion.

That he is undoubtedly the latter there can be no doubt whatever; none of our native breeds are livelier or perkier than he; few so lively; and ever on the alert, it is no doubt on this account that he has taken the fancy of such a dog loving nation as ourselves. The Schipperke ought to be born without a tail, or at any rate with a merely rudimentary stump, but when he is produced with the caudal appendage intact it is of course cut off, and as the operation is performed skilfully, not even an expert can tell whether he is naturally or but artificially tailless. In Holland there is a dark fawn-coloured variety of the breed, but here nothing but black is acknowledged, though I consider those fawn in hue are by no means displeasing to the eye, and possess quite as much character as the blacks. The latter breed true to colour, and it is very unusual for one of any other hue to be produced from black parents, still this does occur at times, but such as are "off" colour and have much white about them should be at once destroyed, as they are in most instances.

A friend of mine who keeps several Schipperkes in conjunction with his deerhounds, gives the former a very high character. He says they make "excellent house dogs, being capital guards, ever on the alert and always busy, the latter being one of their prevailing characteristics. As companions they are affectionate and docile, will take the water freely, are good swimmers, and can kill rats and hunt rabbits almost as well as some of our terriers. When properly kept and attended to, they are absolutely free from any offensive odour. In constitution they are hardy and healthy, and altogether most desirable as house dogs".

This is a good character, but I do not know that it is more than they deserve. Their size - about 12lb. - makes them particularly adaptable as house dogs, and so does their colour, especially in towns, where a white dog requires repeatedly tubbing if it be desired to keep his jacket clean and in good order. Of late there has been a tendency to increase the size of the Schipperke, and on more than one occasion prizes have gone to animals considerably over the stipulated standard. In Belgium two sizes appear to be recognised, the smaller varying from about 91b. to 12lb., the larger from 12lb. to 2olb. I do not like the big ones at all, and I hope such will never obtain the support of the Schipperke Club in this country. Twelve pounds is quite big enough, and it is such a weight as can be continued and established without losing constitutional strength, bone, and general symmetry. Still, the specialist club in Belgium, which was established in 1888, encourages the two sizes, and at the exhibitions in that country each has a separate classification. The English club to look after the interests of the variety was established in 1890, and the Kennel Club granted an entry in the "Stud Book" three years later.

The following are the points and description of the Schipperke as adopted by the English club;

Head

Foxy in type, skull should not be round, but broad, and with little stop. The muzzle should be moderate in length, fine but not weak, should be well filled out under the eyes.

Nose

Black and small.

Eyes

Dark brown, small, more round than oval and not full; bright and full of expression.

Ears

Shape - Of moderate length, not too broad at the base, tapering to a point. Carriage - Stiffly erect, and when in that position, the inside edge to form as near as possible a right angle with the skull, and strong enough not to be bent otherwise than lengthways.

Teeth

Strong and level.

Neck

Strong and full, rather short, set broad on the shoulders and stiffly arched.

Shoulders

Muscular and sloping.

Chest

Broad and deep in brisket.

Back

Short, straight, and strong.

Loins

Powerful, well drawn up from the brisket.

Fore Legs

Perfectly straight, well under the body, with bone in proportion to the body.

Hind Legs

Strong, muscular, hocks well let down.

Feet

Small, catlike, and standing well on its toes.

Nails

Black.

Hindquarters

Fine compared to the foreparts, muscular, and well developed thighs, tailless, rump well-rounded.

Coat

Black, abundant, dense, and harsh, smooth on the head, ears, and legs, lying close on the back and sides, but erect and thick round the neck, forming a mane and frill, and well feathered on back of thighs.

Weight

About 12lb.

General Appearance

A small cobby animal with sharp expression, intensely lively, presenting the appearance of being always on the alert.

Disqualifying Points

Drop or semi-erect ears.

Faults

White hairs are objected to, but are not disqualifying.

Standard Of Points For Judging

Grand Total, 100.

Perhaps no other variety of dog has so soon been acknowledged by our English dog lovers as this.

Most of the leading shows now provide classes for him, the club gives challenge and other special prizes to its members, and already there are many persons who keep quite large kennels, most of the best specimens therein having, however, been purchased on the continent. Mr. I. Woodiwiss and Mr. E. S. Woodiwiss (Derby) have both owned and still own excellent specimens; Mr. W. H. Singer, Frome; Mrs. Hyacinth Cosier, London; Mrs. E. Heard, Greenhithe; Mr. W. R. H. Temple, Streatham; Mr. E. H. Fuller, Mr. J. H. Hill (honorary secretary to the club), Mr. G. R. Krehl (one of their very earliest admirers), Mr. E. Joachim, Mr. B. W. Moore, Derby, have all at one time or another proved their admiration for the black little dog by owning and exhibiting on our show benches specimens good enough to win prizes. The Schip-perke Club held special shows of their variety in conjunction with the Toy Spaniel and other clubs at Westminster Aquarium, in 1892-3, where there were about thirty competitors on each occasion; and there were nineteen entries at the Kennel Club gathering which took place at the Crystal Palace in 1893.