CHAPTER XVII. 



THE SCHIPPERKE. 



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 rudi- 

 mentary stump, but when he is produced with the 



