The Little Captain Belgian Schipperke

This one is a pocket battleship, small and sturdy, going back some five centuries in origin. Fascinating in its history and abilities, the Belgian Schipperke is a breed to definitely take note of

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They might resemble the Pomeranian or the Spitz, but they are far from. The Schipperke goes back to the “rat dogs” or “ratters” around the time of the Bubonic Plague in Europe in the 14th century. The modern breed evolved from these dogs bred in the Low Countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands to counteract the menace of the rodents who were in turn infected by the deadly rat flea. Today, they make for great sleuths and guard dogs though their size works against them. Loyal companions, they are, without a doubt.

ORIGIN: The name of this breed comes from the Flemish word for ship, “schip”. Given their purpose as ratters on canal barges between Brussels and Antwerp, and very often the captain’s right hand canine, they earned the nickname, Little Captain and Little Skipper. Further down the line, the breed resembled the large sheepdog of Flanders – around the 1600s – the Leauvenaar, but was gradually bred down to a smaller size which we know today as the modern Belgian shepherd – the Schipperke.