Any advice for people interested in getting a schipperke?

We are thinking about getting a schipperke dog and have read many conflicting reports on the charicteristics of this type of dog. Are they as energetic and loud as some reports say. Are they difficult to handle?

Don't do it! It is a trap!On a more serious note, they are not a breed I personally like. From what I have seen, they tend to be little land sharks.

Cuteness is such a poor judge of character! Do some research on the breed. Can be OK for a person who is willing to train and extensively socialize the dog. Not for small children. Talk to rescues and animal shelters about the breed, not breeders or pet stores. Shelters and rescues see the good, the bad, and the ugly, and will educate you accordingly.

Anyone thinking of getting any particular breed of dog should research the breed thoroughly.This is easiest by going to that breed's national parent club... sometimes the name of the parent club differs slightly, but most are (Breed Name) Club of America... in this case do a search for the Schipperke Club of America... Talk to breeders who show their dogs... remember, they are trying to breed the best dog possible according to that breed's standard...this includes not only "looks", but temperment and health... Hope that helps...

Schipperkes are quirky little dogs that can be difficult to train. They were used as watch dogs, so they tend to bark a lot. The biggest problem they have is running away if they get loose. Generally, they're friendly with their family, but are a bit independent. If you get a male, have him neutered early - they're also big on mounting your leg and peeing in the house to mark their territory. They need a little weekly brushing and a daily thirty minute walk.BEFORE you get any dog you should read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.comWhat All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian KilcomminsDog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and BenjaminDon't Shoot the Dog - PryorTraining Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - VolhardDog Problems - BenjaminCesar's Way - Cesar MillanAlso, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These so-called "breeders" have now figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.