Schipperke breed standard (UK)
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Small, cobby, active dog,with sharp foxy expression.
CHARACTERISTICS: Intensely lively and alert
.
TEMPERAMENT: Amenable, intelligent and faithful.
HEAD AND SKULL: Skull not round, but fairly broad,flat, with little stop. Muzzle moderate in length, fine but not weak, well filled under eyes. Nose black and
small.
EYES: Dark brown, more oval than round, not full; bright, most expressive.
EARS: Moderate length, not too broad at base, tapering to a point. Carried stiffly erect and strong enough not to be bent otherwise than lengthways.
MOUTH: Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
NECK: Strong and full, rather short, set broad on shoulders, slightly arched.
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders muscular and sloping. Legs perfectly straight, well under the body, bone in proportion to the body.
BODY: Chest broad and deep in brisket. Back short, straight and strong. Loins powerful, well drawn up from brisket.
HINDQUARTERS: Fine compared with forequarters; muscular and well developed thighs; well rounded rump. Legs strong, muscular, hocks well let down.
FEET: Small, cat-like, and standing well on the toes.
TAIL: Customarily docked or may be born tailless.
Docked: Very Short.
Undocked: Tightly curled, carried over the back. Well covered with hair.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Short, brisk stride, moving true fore and aft.
COAT: Abundant, dense and harsh; smooth on head, ears and legs; lying close on back and sides; erect and thick round neck, forming a mane and frill; with good culottes on the back of thighs.
COLOUR: Usually black but other whole colours permissible.
SIZE: Weight about 5.4 to 7.3 kgs (12-16lbs).
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.