What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Pomeranians, and placid Pomeranians.
- Hard-headed Pomeranians, and sweet-natured Pomeranians.
- Serious Pomeranians, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Pomeranians, and Pomeranians who love everyone.
If you acquire a Pomeranian puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm."
Now let's look at some common
characteristics for this breed...
| If you want a dog who... |
- Is very small and "spitz-like", with pricked ears, foxy face, a thick coat, and curled tail
- Is vivacious and spunky, bright and attentive
- Is delightfully alive and aware of everything going on around him and keenly alert to approaching strangers
- Is usually fine with other pets
A Pomeranian may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- The fragility of toy breeds (see below)
- Suspicious yappiness toward strangers when not socialized enough
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Barking
- Regular brushing and combing
- Heavy shedding
- Housebreaking difficulties
A Pomeranian may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Pomeranian... |
My major concerns would be:
- Unstable temperaments. Pomeranians are a dime a dozen, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of Pomeranians with neurotic behaviors, including biting, sharpness, extreme fearfulness, moodiness, and general nastiness.
- Fragility. Too many people acquire a toy breed puppy
without understanding how incredibly fragile a toy breed is. You
can seriously injure or kill a Pomeranian puppy by stepping on
him or by sitting on him when he's curled under a blanket or
pillow, where he frequently likes to sleep. And Pomeranians can
seriously injure or kill THEMSELVES by leaping from your arms or
off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Pomeranian
and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed
means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on
around your tiny dog. Pomeranians must always be kept indoors,
in a safely fenced yard, or on-leash -- they are just too easy
to injure when not under your complete control.
If you have small children, I do not recommend a Pomeranian. There are just too many Poms who won't tolerate any nonsense. And there are too many Poms who feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and stress and shyness (even defensive biting) may be the result. - Suspiciousness. Standoffish by nature, Pomeranians need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with and could even lead to defensive biting.
- Mind of their own. Pomeranians are not a submissive or sissyish breed. They are very bright, but they have an independent mind of their own and can be manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
- Barking. Pomeranians are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, Pomeranians are not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Pomeranians should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised.
Housebreaking. Toy breeds are almost always difficult to housebreak. It is so easy for them to sneak behind a chair or under a small table, and it takes only a few seconds for the deed to be done. The results can be hard to see. When you don't see it, you don't correct it -- and so the bad habit becomes established. If you hope to housebreak a toy breed, consistent crate training is mandatory. Pomeranians should not be loosed in the house for many months, until their small internal organs become strong enough for reliable control.
| If you're considering an adult Pomeranian... |
There are plenty of adult Pomeranians who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Schipperkes, and placid Schipperkes.
- Hard-headed Schipperkes and sweet-natured Schipperkes.
- Serious Schipperkes and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Schipperkes, and Schipperkes who love everyone.
|
If you acquire a Schipperke puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics
for this breed...
|
If you want a dog who... |
- Is unusual-looking: a little black Spitz-like dog with a foxy face, thick coat, rounded rump, and docked tail (or bushy tail)
- Is one of the most dynamic, intense, and curious of all breeds
- Is quick-moving and agile and thrives on athletic activities and interactive games
- Makes an extremely keen watchdog
- Is hardy, healthy, and long-lived
A Schipperke may be right for you.
|
If you don't want to deal with.... |
- Extremely high activity level
- Providing enough exercise and activities to keep him busy
- Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much
- Suspiciousness toward strangers
- Aggression toward other animals -- strong chasing instincts
- Escape attempts and running away
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Lots of barking
A Schipperke may not be right for you.
|
If I were considering a Schipperke... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Schipperkes are incredibly active go-getters. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Schipperkes can make a shambles of your house and yard.
|
I strongly recommend that you get your Schipperke involved in obedience classes at the intermediate or advanced level, in agility (an obstacle course for dogs), or in tracking. |
- Suspiciousness toward strangers. Standoffish by nature, Schipperkes need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become extreme suspiciousness, which is difficult to live with and could even lead to biting.
|
If you have SMALL children, I do not recommend a Schipperke. First, because children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Schipperke puppy who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Even Schipperke adults may feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and there are many Schipperkes who won't tolerate any nonsense and are quick to react to teasing. Finally, some Schipperkes simply play too roughly, including nipping. |
- Animal aggression. Many Schipperkes are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster!
|
Schipperkes cannot be trusted off-leash. They will take off -- oblivious to your frantic shouts -- after anything that runs. |
- Fence security. Many Schipperkes are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. To keep your Schipperke in, you may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks.
- The strong temperament. Schipperkes are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
|
To teach your Schipperke to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Schipperke Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Barking. Schipperkes are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, Schipperkes are not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Schipperkes should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, many Schipperkes have intense, high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge.
- Heavy shedding. Schipperkes shed quite a bit. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life.
- Housebreaking. Schipperkes tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training before you see results.
|
If you're considering an adult Schipperke... |
There are plenty of adult Schipperkes who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.