The Schipperke. 349 



This is a good character, but I do not know that 

 it is more than they deserve. Their size about i2lb. 

 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 9lb. to i2lb., the larger from i2lb. 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 exhi- 

 bitions in that country each has a separate classi- 

 fication. 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 : 



