The Schipperke, also known as Schipperke in English, originates from Belgium and its name comes from Flemish, meaning "little captain" or "ship's boy". It used to live mainly by the riverbanks in the low-lying areas of Belgium and its main duties were to guard canal boats and catch mice. Schipperkes are extremely loyal to their owners and will immediately protect them in emergency situations. They have a high level of vigilance. They do not like to fight and enjoy playing with children. They have a gentle and independent personality and are known as the "best indoor dog".
Schipperke originated from the region of Flanders and for hundreds of years there have been no similar breeds. It is said that the ancestors of Schipperke are descendants of the extinct Belgian Sheepdog, but there is also a theory that it is descended from the Northern Fox Terrier or a crossbreed between a monkey and a Pomeranian, with no definitive conclusion. Over the years, its popularity has only increased, and it is regarded as one of the Belgian native breeds.
Schipperke is a small-sized breed, and when it is excited, its thick and coarse fur stands on end like a burst of hair. It has adorable erect ears and a sturdy physique, possibly possessing genes from its ancestor, the fox terrier. Its appearance is very unique and loved by people. It is one of the smallest breeds in the fox terrier family. The fur is longer around the neck and thighs and very dense. The majority of the coat color is black, but in the United States, only black is recognized as purebred, while other countries allow for other colors.
The Schipperke is known as the "best indoor dog" and is very suitable for modern family raising. They enjoy playing with children and can quickly integrate with them, making them the best playmates for children. They have a gentle temperament and are loyal to their owners, making them excellent guard dogs.
1, Dog Infectious Diseases
Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, commonly including canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical manifestations include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, sleepiness, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.
Generally, these types of infectious and fatal diseases are more common in dogs during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies have a higher susceptibility rate, a lower cure rate, and are more likely to have sequelae.
How to prevent:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for owners to choose dogs through formal channels, vaccinate dogs on time, and do regular disinfection at home. Do not take the dog out for a walk before completing the vaccination. Do not let the dog come into contact with unknown dogs, and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose casually.
2, Dog Skin Diseases
Dogs often contract various skin diseases because they often go out for walks. If dogs are accidentally infected with mites, bacteria or fungi while outside, there is a risk of long-term difficult healing. So pet owners must pay attention. Clinical manifestations of dog skin diseases include oily skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulceration, suppuration, hair loss, scabbing, etc.
How to prevent:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, and avoid darkness and humidity. In addition, disinfect the dog's living environment regularly, do internal and external deworming for the dog, use dog-specific bathing liquid, comb the hair regularly, and supplement vitamins and fish oil.
3, Dog Parasites
Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which often cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs, and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, affecting the living quality and physical development of dogs. In general, dogs with parasites are mostly thin and listless.
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How to prevent:
Normally, when feeding, pet owners need to pay attention and try not to feed dogs non-sterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Deworming in dogs' bodies should be done every 3 months, while external deworming should be done every month. When going out, it is necessary to prevent dogs from eating or licking randomly, and after returning home, be sure to check carefully.
The keeping method of the Schipperke is not much different from that of other small dogs. It needs to be groomed and bathed regularly every day, and it is easy to keep. This dog is very intelligent and alert, with a strong learning ability, and it is easy to train some basic daily habits.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Bathing the dog, of course, cannot be too frequent. Bathing the dog depends on the dog's hygiene situation. In hot weather in summer, bathe the dog more than once or twice, and reduce it by one or two times in winter, but overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Regularly groom the fur
Dogs will shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when the seasonal shedding is more severe. To make the fur grow well, regular grooming is an important step. Pet owners can use a special pet comb to help the dog clean up the naturally shed hair and prevent tangles. Groom the dog once in the morning and once in the evening, for about five minutes each time.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the dog's fur growth. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill germs. During sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur quality is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body and deprive them of nutrition, so deworming is essential. It is recommended to deworm both internally and externally. Also, deworming medicine can cause great harm to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is recommended to feed it with probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have shiny fur, the dog must have a good foundation of nutrition, so pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also feed the dog with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
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