How to Groom a Schipperke Dog

Schipperkes (pronounced "sheep-er-ker") are small, tail-less dogs that belong to the Non-Sporting Group. Their coats come in solid black, tan and fawn. Black is the only color the American Kennel Club accepts, but overseas organizations may accept other colors. Schipperkes require a full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks and a general grooming once a week.

Things You'll Need

• Slicker brush
• Metal combs
• Scissors
• Coat conditioner
• Thinning shears

Instructions

1. Brush out the coat throughly beginning with a slicker brush. Afterwards, run a metal comb through the coat to remove excess shed hair from the undercoat. Schipperkes have a dense, medium-length double coat that can collect shed hair and become severely matted. Always brush them out before bathing, as getting the coat wet only makes pre-existing knots worse.

2. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. Put cotton balls in the dog's ears while bathing to prevent water from getting inside them. This breed's coat is basically self-cleaning, so there isn't much need for bathing.

3. Clip the whiskers with scissors if you wish. This isn't a requirement, merely a matter of taste.

4. Apply a mist of coat conditioner to give your dog's coat an extra gloss.

5. Use thinning shears to sculpt the coat. It should be fuller around the neck than the rest of the body and should have a natural, clean slope down the back.

Tips & Warnings

• Schipperkes don't shed very much, except females, who shed massively three times per year. When this occurs, they lose all of their undercoat within a span of 10 days or so. After this shedding period, they may be totally naked for 2 or 3 months.

• For show dogs, only trim between the pads on the feet and the whiskers.

• Schipperkes are generally between 10 and 13 inches tall and weigh between 12 and 18 lb.

• Schipperkes can potentially suffer from hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and slipping hip sockets. Legg Calves Perthes, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Cataracts and a newly discovered disease called MPS 111B can also pose problems.