CHAPTER XII 

 THE SCHIPPERKE 



THE Schipperke may fitly be described as the Paul Pry of 

 canine society. His insatiate inquisitiveness induces him to 

 poke his nose into everything ; every strange object excites 

 his curiosity, and he will, if possible, look behind it ; the 

 slightest noise arouses his attention, and he wants to investi- 

 gate its cause. There is no end to his liveliness, but he moves 

 about with almost catlike agility without upsetting any 

 objects in a room, and when he hops he has a curious way of 

 catching up his hind legs. The Schipperke's disposition is 

 most affectionate, tinged with a good deal of jealousy, and 

 even when made one of the household he generally attaches 

 himself more particularly to one person, whom he " owns," 

 and whose protection he deems his special duty. 



These qualities endear the Schipperke as a canine com- 

 panion, with a quaint and lovable character; and he is also 

 a capital vermin dog. When properly entered he cannot 

 be surpassed as a " ratter." 



Schipperkes have always been kept as watch-dogs on the 

 Flemish canal barges, and that, no doubt, is the origin of the 

 name, which is the Flemish for " Little Skipper," the syllable 

 " ke " forming the diminutive of " schipper." 



The respectable antiquity of this dog is proved by the 

 result of the researches Mr. Van der Snickt and Mr. Van 

 Buggenhoudt made in the archives of Flemish towns, which 

 contain records of the breed going back in pure type over a 

 hundred years. 



The first Schipperke which appeared at a show in this coun- 

 try was Mr. Berne's Flo. This was, however, such a mediocre 

 specimen that it did not appeal to the taste of the English 



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