I have been talking to an old man this morning who owns a schipperke.  His son got him the dog and has told him they are very rare and that there are only 6 in the country which I know is wrong.  Are they quite a rare breed because I have only ever seen the one and how many are there in the country about?

Schipperke KC registrations: 1995=110; 1996=155; 97=120; 98=97; 99=125; 00=146; 01=112; 02=100; 03=104; 04=77

So not very common, but not that rare either!

Thanks Jeangenie, I have printed that info out and will show him next time I see him because he seems very interested to know.

Schipperkes are classed as a minority breed and our numbers are falling for some reason they are losing the little bit of popularity they had, perhaps folk don't realise how much work is involved and how versatile they are.

Hi Schip,

Do you breed Schipperkes?  The man said that when he took his into the vet (another dog had savaged it and made quite a mess) the vet had never seen or heard of one before.  Its a lovely little dog and doesn't seem to be any trouble at all, why are they not so popular then is there a reason?