Preserving the Breed Through Health 

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BISS GCHB Crosswind's Journey to Serendipity RN CGCA CGCU TKI going Best of Breed in the National Owner Handled Finals in 2021

​Schipperke Club of Florida : Finding a Responsible Breeder

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Many members are on the search for a puppy so, here are places to start! Saying you don’t need a dog from a breeder who shows is like saying your going to buy a house without an inspection.

First,GOOD Breeders aren’t vending machines, and puppies aren’t available to add to a shopping cart. GOOD Breeders spend years researching pedigrees and planning breedings. GOOD Breeders spend thousands of dollars on their dogs, Health Testing, Titling and providing an environment for their dogs to thrive.
GOOD breeders spend countless hours on their dogs, grooming, traveling to events or studs or vets, researching and providing care.

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Good Breeders shed so many tears over missed breedings, lost puppies, beautiful show potential puppies whose bite goes off (or some other minor issue), losing moms, injuries or emergency illness.
Instead of searching for a puppy, seek out a breeder whose dogs you admire and whose program you love.
HONOR the breeder’s sacrifices they make for their passion for the breed, and get to know them. Ask them about their program and goals. Then be prepared to wait for your perfect match.
Breeding is truly a labor of love. A "GOOD" breeder isn’t churning out puppies to sell them on the next ISO post, they are breeding with intention and with specific goals in mind.Second, The purchase of a well bred purebred did not sentence another dog to death.The purchase of a well bred purebred did not cause an increase in the number of dogs in shelter.
Someone wanting a dog with a predictable temperament from healthy lineage did not cause another dog to not get adopted.

Someone's meticulous research and support of only the most responsible of breeders is not the problem. It is not what you should be mad at. It is not what you should be pushing the blame onto.
I am not the one who brought these dogs into the world irresponsibly and left them in a shelter. Responsible breeders are not the ones who put dogs into shelters either.
It is my home, my life, and my choice of what kind of dog to bring into it. Maybe I needed a working dog, a sport dog, or simply a companion puppy to raise of a breed I enjoy. No matter the reason, the choice to support a reputable breeder did not send a shelter dog to its death.

A breeder who health tests, temperament tests, studies pedigrees, proves a dog worthy of being bred, and only breeds when doing so is of benefit to the breed is not contributing to the number of homeless dogs.
The number of homeless dogs in the world is a problem, but it is not a problem exacerbated by reputable breeders and those who purchase from them.

Your neighbor down the street who refuses to contain his unaltered dogs IS contributing to the problem.
Your friend who impulse bought a dog at PetLand IS contributing to the problem.
That guy on Craigslist pumping out the trendiest designer mix as fast as he can IS contributing to the problem.
Your relative who just HAS to let their dog have one litter “so she can experience motherhood” or because “she’s just so sweet” IS contributing to the problem.

Your old high school classmate who bought a high energy working breed without taking the time to research its needs and realize it was not a good fit for their household ahead of time IS contributing to the problem.
A reputable breeder offers their lifelong support. A reputable breeder would never allow their dogs to end up in a shelter to begin with. A reputable breeder makes it a contractual obligation to return dogs they have produced back to them should you find yourself unable of keeping it.
It is understandable to be angry about the number of homeless dogs in the world, but if you take a deeper look, you will find your anger is misplaced.

If you take a deeper look, you will find reputable breeders and those of us who purchase from them are just as angry, we are just pointing fingers at the right causes.
*Shared from original author

Why does a well-bred dog coast so much?
I  have recently seen a few discussions on the cost of different purebred puppies. A common theme amongst these discussions is people being surprised at the cost of a well bred purebred dog. There are typically two kinds of responses to hearing these higher costs
1. They are astounded by the price and think it is a scam or ridiculous.
2. They think you are insulting their $300 purebred by saying it is not worth as much.
No one is saying that your dog is worth less as a companion based on what you paid, but well bred dogs cost what they cost for very good reasons. A well bred dog can be thought of as an investment, you pay more up front to ensure a higher likelihood of paying less over the dog’s lifetime for health and behavioral issues.
The cost of a well bred dog varies heavily amongst breed and more slightly across different regions, but the averages for each breed can be roughly estimated. For example, a well bred golden retriever is likely to cost you between $2,000-3,000 for just limited registration pretty much anywhere in the US. So, if I see someone selling a golden for $1,000 or less that tells me that massive corners are being cut in regard to health testing, veterinary care, or titling. Reputable breeders so rarely even break even, so they certainly could not afford to take a hit like that, so this would tell me that most likely those puppies are not well bred.

To demonstrate why well bred dogs cost what they do, let’s dive into the details of what all goes into producing the litter. To make it simpler, we’ll continue our example using the golden retriever and I will be giving averages based on estimates from clinics in my area and from breeders I have spoken to regarding this. Individual costs for each breeder will obviously be different based on location and how long it takes to title the dog.

𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: $3,000
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗛 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: $10,000-$15,000
This includes entry fees, travel costs such as gas, hotels, meals, etc, grooming supplies. Breeders often have to travel very far out of state for shows, so these costs will vary. This cost can also be significantly higher if a professional handler is used, and goldens are a hard breed to finish so they often are.
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 (𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗲𝘁𝗰): $5,000-$10,000 per sport
This includes entry fees and travel costs.
These are important steps because they prove through an unbiased third party that the dog has proven itself worthy of being bred. Conformation is meant to serve as judgement of breeding stock, which means that the judges are comparing the dog to its breed standard to see how well it represents it. Titling in sports proves the dog has the drive and trainability to excel in these activities that will hopefully be passed on.
Health testing is one of the most important parts of breeding responsibly. The goal is to produce an overall healthier next generation, so doing all breed appropriate health tests and only breeding those who will pass on better genes is of the utmost importance. For goldens to receive a CHIC number, which is a certification given when the dog has been screened for every disease recommended by the parent club for that breed and those results are publicly made available, there are four required tests:
𝗛𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 >𝟮𝟰 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀:
Radiographs: $100-200
Sedation if necessary: $100
OFA submission: $35
𝗘𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 >𝟮𝟰 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀:
Radiographs: $100-200
Sedation if necessary: $100
OFA submission: $35 
𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆:
Exam: $55
OFA submission: $12 new, $8 resubmission thereafter
𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 >𝟭𝟮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀:
Exam: $100
Echo: $300-500
OFA submission: $15
In addition to these tests required by the CHIC program, many breeders will often do DNA testing to screen for common heritable issues in their breed. For example, PRA and Ichthyosis are commonly screened for in goldens.
𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: $200 through Embark or $80 per test through other companies.
Costs associated with breeding or a pregnant bitch:
𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲: $1,000-3,000
There could also be extra costs associated with shipping the stud or costs associated with artificial insemination.
𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁: $50
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀: $100/each
𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘀/𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀: $150/each
𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁, 𝗲𝘁𝗰: $200
This is assuming the bitch has an easy pregnancy and birth as an emergency C-section could easily cost $5,000.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗻: $250
𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗿, 𝗲𝘁𝗰): $300
𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: $300-500
𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗱: $50/week
𝗩𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: $100/puppy
𝗚𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘀: $50-100/puppy
Taking all of the low end estimates and assuming immediate conception and a flawlessly simple pregnancy and delivery of an average sized litter already breaks $20,000, and none of these figures factor in the time and expertise of the breeder which cannot be quantified. They often take days off work to travel for shows and sport trials or during the first week or so after the puppies have been born. They spend years studying the breed, studying pedigrees, and carefully choosing their pairings. They spend at minimum 8 weeks with the litter once born following puppy raising protocols that ensure the puppies will be as socialized as possible by the time they get to you. They examine the puppies closely looking at structure and personality to decide which puppy is the best fit for you and your lifestyle. After all of this, they also provide a lifetime of support to you and your new dog.

I know that I too was a little shell shocked the first time I learned what a well bred dog costs, but the more that you learn about all that is involved and how important each of those steps are, the more you understand how incredibly worth the investment a well bred dog is.Fourth, “I don’t want a show dog, I just want a pet.”This is one of the most pervasive sentiments that puppy buyers, especially families, express when they're looking for a dog. What they really mean, of course, is that they don't want a show BREEDER – don't want to pay the high price they think show breeders charge, don't want to go through the often-invasive interview process, and think that they're getting a better deal or a real bargain because they can get a Lab for $300 or a Shepherd for$150.

I want you to change your mind. I want you to not only realize the benefits of buying a show-bred dog, I want you to INSIST on a show-bred dog. And I want you to realize that the cheap dog is really the one that's the rip-off. And then I want you to go be obnoxious and, when your workmate says she's getting a puppy because her neighbor, who raises them, will give her one for free, or when your brother-in-law announces that they're buying a goldendoodle for the kids, I want you to launch yourself into their solar plexus and steal their wallets and their car keys.

Here's why:
If I ask you why you want a Maltese, or a Lab, or a Leonberger, or a Cardigan, I would bet you're not going to talk about how much you like their color. You're going to tell me things about personality, ability (to perform a specific task), relationships with other animals or humans, size, coat,
temperament, and so on. You'll describe playing ball, or how affectionate you've heard that they are, or how well they get along with kids.

The things you will be looking for aren't the things that describe just "dog"; they'll be the things that make this particular breed unique and unlike other breeds.
That's where people have made the right initial decision – they've taken the time and made the effort to understand that there are differences between breeds and that they should get one that at least comes close to matching their picture of what they want a dog to be.
Their next step, tragically, is that they go out and find a dog of that breed for as little money and with as much ease as possible.

You need to realize that when you do this, you're going to the used car dealership, WATCHING them pry the "Audi" plate off a new car, observing them as they use Bondo to stick it on a '98 Corolla, and then writing them a check and feeling smug that you got an Audi for so little.
It is no bargain.

Those things that distinguish the breed you want from the generic world of "dog" are only there because somebody worked really hard to get them there. And as soon as that work ceases, the dog, no matter how purebred, begins to revert to the generic. That doesn't mean you won't get a good dog – the magic and the blessing of dogs is that they are so hard to mess up, in their good souls and minds, that even the most hideously bred one can still be a great dog – but it will not be a good Shepherd, or good Puli, or a good Cardigan. You will not get the specialized abilities, tendencies, or talents of the breed.
If you don't NEED those special abilities or the predictability of a particular breed, you should not be buying a dog at all. You should go rescue one. That way you're saving a life and not putting money in pockets where it does not belong.
If you want a purebred and you know that a rescue is not going to fit the bill, the absolute WORST thing you can do is assume that a name equals anything. They really are nothing more than name plates on cars. What matters is whether the engineering and design and service department back up the name plate, so you have some expectation that you're walking away with more than a label.

Keeping a group of dogs looking and acting like their breed is hard, HARD work. If you do not get the impression that the breeder you're considering is working that hard, is that dedicated to the breed, is struggling to produce dogs that are more than a breed name, you are getting no bargain; you are only getting ripped off."
-Author Joanna KimballFifth, What Separates Good Ones from Bad OnesExperienced heritage breeders know when they’ve got a “keeper” in a litter. They also know that sometimes, a “little thing” will mean the difference between a puppy becoming part of a breeding program, and becoming someone’s beloved companion never to set foot in a show ring. It’s usually something a non-fancier will never notice: An ear set. A tail set. A lack of balance, wonky dentition, or unfortunate markings.

It’s extraordinary, really. All the things that have to fall into place for a dog to be show-ring worthy, let alone Best in Show material.
One thing that is non-negotiable for a conscientious breeder is to breed for a color that is disqualified by the breed’s standard. Substandard breeders who care most about hearing this sound see dollar sounds in breeding – and promoting – an exotic color. Uninformed breeders doing the same thing out of ignorance aren’t much better because they see no harm in breeding for a color the public seems to want. It’s just a color, right?
Wrong.

The image you see here is one we found unattributed on Pinterest (and we’ll happily credit the photo upon receipt of information). What’s not to love about this adorable Frenchie puppy?
There is no shortage of people willing to sell – and buy – a black French Bulldog. One will often see this on the Internet when looking for a Frenchie pup: “RARE color. Black French Bulldog!”
Would the puppy sell as well if the breeder adhered to truth in advertising? It would look like this: “Black French Bulldog puppies. RARE color that carries gene for deafness and eye problems.”
Uh, no.

There is a reason why some colors are disallowed in the standards of some breeds, and it has little to do with whim. All white and all black Frenchies with no trace of brindle carry the deaf gene, and they can also produce blue-eyed dogs with eye problems. Few pet owners want to cope with health issues in their new dog, particularly after having paid big money for this “rare” quality in their puppy. A good breeder will never risk a dog’s health, and potential owners actually bearing the responsibility of researching the breed they are getting won’t happen until the “good guys” do a better job of putting this word out: There’s a reason we don’t breed for certain colors!

Sadly, there are other colors considered “rare” in French Bulldogs that unscrupulous breeders will promote: Black and tan (think Doberman Pinscher). “Blue,” which if we understand correctly, has been a significant issue in the breed because it tends to produce yellow- or green-eyed dogs, all associated with blindness.
Some colors carry a genetic disorder that causes hair loss and dry, scaly skin that can lead to a miserable life for an adult Frenchie. Other DQ’s colors are so dominant that when they’re part of a breeding program, they can effectively eliminate healthy fawns, brindles, creams, and pieds because a unethical and/or uneducated people wanted these “exotic” colors.
We know our readers are informed individuals, but increasingly as NPDD inserts itself into the general population, our readers are caring pet owners who don’t know any better, but would like to improve. Our sincere hope is that this post will serve to prevent someone from purchasing a “DQ’d color,” and dry up the market for those colors.
SCHIPPERKE Specific Information

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPSIIIB) in Schipperkes and DNA Testing
In 2003 the genetic disease MPSlllB that occurs in Schipperkes as well as humans was reported. The gene responsible was identified in many Schipperkes of the population at that time and numerous ones were found to actually have the disease. When a dog has the disease, it is ultimately lethal. Therefore, it is imperative that all Schipperke breeders learn about this disease and know the genetic makeup regarding this disease of all dogs prior to using them for breeding. The information below was provided by Dr. Ellinwood, the researcher who studied this disease.

What is MPSIIIB The disease MPSIIIB, also known as Sanfilippo syndrome type IIIB, is an inherited disease. It is one of a group of eleven different genetic diseases known as the MPS disorders. The MPS disorders are all classified as lysosomal storage diseases. Other better-known lysosomal storage diseases that occur in humans include Tay-Sachs disease and Gaucher disease. The feature that unites lysosomal storage diseases is that they have abnormal lysosomal function. The lysosome is an important structure of virtually all cells in the body, and serves as the "garbage disposal" of the cell. In humans MPSIIIB is seen in approximately one out of 73,000 live births. The lysosome is essentially a "bag" within cells of the body, which is filled with special enzymes. The lysosome's function is to disassemble large molecules of a cell that need to be recycled or disposed of.

The way in which molecules are dissembled in the lysosomes involves a series of steps, something like an automobile assembly line, but in reverse. In place of the "disassembly" line workers who each do one specific job, the lysosome employs many different enzymes, which again have just one job each. These enzymes, when all are present, disassemble molecules in an orderly and efficient manner. When one of the enzymes is missing, due to mutations in all copies of the gene for that specific enzyme, the orderly processes of disassembly stops, and large undegraded molecules begin to accumulate in the lysosomes, hence the name lysosomal storage disease. Eventually the lysosomes of a cell become so large, that it interferes with the normal job of a cell, and the cells become sick or die, which leads to the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease.

​In MPSIIIB the compound which is stored is called heparan sulfate. Heparan sulfate is one of a number of compounds known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are themselves long strings of chemically modified sugar molecules important in structures like bone and cartilage and in the communication machinery between cells in the body, especially in the brain. The term mucopolysaccharide is actually on old-fashioned term for GAG, hence the name mucolpolysaccharidosis. The enzyme that is not functioning appropriately in MPSIIIB is called N-acetyl-a-D-glucoseaminidase (NAGLU) (Schipperkeclub-usa.org)INHERITED DISEASESWhile the genetics of many inherited conditions are simple recessives as, not all are. Let’s start with the ones that are autosomal recessive traits.

Bleeding Disorders
Von Willebrand Disease Type I (VWF).
This disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive. BUT while it is an inherited bleeding disorder and does affect many breeds of dogs. not all are affected the same. Those affected with VWDI have less than half of the normal level of von Willebrand coagulation factor (vWf), an essential protein needed for normal blood clotting. Not all dogs with two copies of the mutation are equally affected. Dogs that have less than 35% of the normal amount of vWf usually have mild to moderate signs and may bruise easily, have frequent nosebleeds, bleed from the mouth when teething, and have prolonged bleeding after surgery or trauma. Rarely is the bleeding severe enough to cause death. Most dogs will have a normal lifespan despite increased blood clotting times. Factor VII Deficiency (F7 Exon 5) This also an autosomal recessive. Affected dogs do not make enough Factor VII protein, an essential for the blood coagulation process. Affected dogs may not show any symptoms normally, but may bleed excessively after surgery or an injury.

Ophthalmic Conditions
Many ophthalmic conditions are also autosomal recessives. This includes the two mentioned by Beth in the Newsletter : Canine Multifocal Retinopathy cmr1 (BEST1 Exon 2) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy - prcd Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD Exon 1) Canine Multifocal Retinopathy This mutation causes raised lesions on the retina which changes the appearance in the inside of the eye, but rarely affects sight. This usually appears when puppies are only a few months old and generally do not worsen over time. The lesions may result in minor folding of the retina or disappear. Progressive Retinal Atrophy – prcd Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD Exon 1) PRA stands for a group of disease that cause the retina to degenerate over time. This results in declining vision and eventually blindness. Prcd refers to progressive rod-cone degeneration, a type of PRA. With this problem, cells in the back of the eye on the retina that seem to develop normally early in life, degenerate and die. Rod cells are the first to lose normal function. The result is night blindness as these cells operate in low levels of light. The Cone cells function in full light and when they fail, the dog will eventually be blind. Blindness from other conditions can appear similar to PRA so an exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist as well as the genetic test will help with the diagnosis. There is no treatment. The Other Autosomal recessive Condition Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy polyneuropathy comples, congenital laryngeal paralysis or JLPP. This is also an autosomal recessive condition. When excited or exercised affected dogs have difficulty breathing, may have a change in their bark and develop weakness with loss of coordination in the hind legs and then also the front legs also. Difficulty swallowing followed by choking or pneumonia may occur. Eye problems are common. There is no treatment and most dogs die by 6 months or are euthanized.

The Autosomal Dominant one
Malignant Hyperthermia (MH)
Malignant Hyperthermia is an autosomal dominant genetic mutation that causes a dog to have dangerous physical reactions in response to specific triggers which include exposure to certain drugs, most notably the inhaled anesthetics like halothane. Other triggers include the ingestion of food ingredients such as caffeine and hops as well as too much exercise. Because the condition can become apparent when a dog is under stress or over-stimulated MH is also known as "canine stress syndrome". Because the mutation is autosomal dominant, only one copy of the mutation is necessary to produce the problem. When the affected dog experiences one of the triggers it can have extreme muscle contractions, increased metabolism, rapid heartbeat and elevated body temperature. The body produces too much carbon dioxide, and enters a hypermetabolic state. Muscles become rigid and stiff and a seizure may result. A dog with the MH mutation may not survive undergoing anesthesia using halothane or other types of inhaled anesthesia. There are some forms of anesthesia that can be safely used to sedate dogs affected with MH. There is no cure for Malignant Hyperthermia, but dogs with this mutation can avoid stressful situations, intense exercise, and food and drugs that trigger symptoms. For information on DNA testing check the AKC-CHF site including the article Responsible Use of DNA Testing at http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/news/responsible-use-of-dna.htm


THE SCHIPPERKE
The Schipperke, pronounced “skip-er-key”, is a faithful little watch dog, active, mischievous, impudent and very alert. The breed originated in the Flemish provinces of Belgium, and from the very beginning he served as a companion and guard dog for the tradesmen and barge captains of the provinces. He acquired his name because he was known primarily for his services on the barges and canal boats. In Flemish, Schipperke means “Little Captain.” In appearance, the Schip is very distinctive, resembling no other breed closely. It is a small thickset, cobby, black, tailless dog, square in profile, having a distinctive coat which includes an outstanding ruff, cape and culottes. All of these form the unique silhouette. The Schipperke, one of the hardiest of all small dogs, is equally at home in the country or in a small city apartment. In spite of its small stature, he is by no means considered a “toy” breed. While usually an excellent ratter, the Schip is not a powerful fighter, although he can hold his own with most dogs of his weight and will tackle anything in defense of his household or of his master. When it comes to guarding his family, home or possessions, he has no idea of the limitations of his size.

Essentially the Schip is a guard dog, completely devoted to the family, and by nature, suspicious of all strangers. They are lively, busy little dogs, continually occupied with what is going on around them, careful of things given them to guard, very kind to children, always curious to know what is going on behind closed doors or about any object that has been moved. The Schipperke is usually a longlived dog for a small breed. It is not rare for them to live to be fifteen or sixteen years of age and older. Now that you have decided you want a Schipperke, your problem is to select the right one for your circumstances. Can you afford a potential champion, or do you just want one that can be your companion? You may want to show your Schipperke, or if it is a female, you may want to raise a litter of puppies. If so, SELECT THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD. It costs no more to feed and care for the best, and your rewards will be far greater. Whether you are buying a Schipperke as a pet, for breeding, or for show you should make sure you are dealing with a reputable breeder. Generally you should be prepared to pay at least $600.00 for a healthy, worth-while pet and much more if you are after a dog with highly desirable bloodlines and temperament, suitable for breeding and/or showing. A good breeder stands behind what they sell and will replace or in some cases, refund the purchase price, defective animals. In either case, you should expect a sound, healthy dog, but remember that if you are buying a pet, it is NOT suitable as breeding or show stock.

Just because a dog is AKC registered does not mean that it is show quality. This is true of all breeds of dogs. Usually breeders will sell their pet puppies at very reasonable prices. They can and do get much higher prices for the ones more closely matching the Standard of Excellence. In general, quality begets quality, meaning that top quality bred to top quality stands a far better chance of producing top quality than vice versa. Do not buy a Schipperke with the intention of making money on puppies. Schipperkes average only 3 to 5 puppies per litter. It costs a lot of money to properly raise a litter to a marketable age and because Schips are relatively unknown, the market is rather small. You must be prepared to keep the puppies that don’t sell for as long as it takes to find them proper homes. To locate a reputable breeder, contact:
Schipperke Club of America Breeder Referral Chair: https://www.schipperkeclub-usa.org/club-info/breeder-referral/ Consider a Rescue Schip as your companion.

The Schipperke Club of America, Inc. has a listing of many of the rescue groups on their website at https://www.schipperkeclub-usa.org/rescue-referral/ just click on Rescue


CHIC Health Testing Requirements
The OFA, working with the breed's parent club, recommends the following basic health screening tests for all breeding stock. Dogs meeting these basic health screening requirements will be issued Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) numbers. For CHIC certification, all results do not need to be normal, but they must all be in the public domain so that responsible breeders can make more informed breeding decisions. For potential puppy buyers, CHIC certification is a good indicator the breeder responsibly factors good health into their selection criteria. The breed specific list below represents the basic health screening recommendations. It is not all encompassing. There may be other health screening tests appropriate for this breed. And, there may be other health concerns for which there is no commonly accepted screening protocol available. Notes
In addition to the breed specific requirements above, a CHIC requirement across all participating breeds is that the dog must be permanently identified via microchip or tattoo in order to qualify for a CHIC number.

CHIC numbers generate automatically within 1 to 2 weeks after all the required test results have been registered with the OFA.

For dogs residing outside the US or Canada, owners may submit their country's equivalent health screening results for listing on the OFA website. These requests are reviewed on a case by case basis and fees apply. Once these results have been recorded with the OFA, owners may request CHIC numbers if they've met all the CHIC requirements through regular registrations or international equivalents. These requests are handled on a case by case basis.Resources:https://www.schipperkeclub-usa.org/ (Breeder Recommendations)
https://www.ofa.org/recommended-tests?breed=SK
http://temp.schipperkeclub-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/breederseducationpresentation.pdf


Update 1/14/2022
​Veterinarians question validity of hybrid vigor in wake of study
Researchers peruse thousands of clinical cases for genetic conditions
November 7, 2013 (published)
By Phyllis DeGioia
Veterinarians are rethinking the widely held belief that mixed breeds are hardier than purebred dogs in the wake of new research that shows both are equally susceptible to a variety of genetic disorders.
The study — one of the first of its kind in terms of breadth — shakes the notion that mixing breeds is a surefire way to help lessen the incidence of disease. Published in the June 1 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the work comes from University of California, Davis (UC Davis) researchers who tapped some 90,000 medical records of dogs seen between 1995 and 2010 at the institution's School of Veterinary Medicine. Among the cases reviewed, 27,254 dogs presented with at least one of 24 genetic conditions, the researchers concluded.
The cases revealed that mixed-breed dogs are nearly as susceptible as purebred dogs to 13 heritable medical conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve dysplasia, lymphoma and hip dysplasia. The study also found some statistical basis for the perception that purebreds are more vulnerable to certain genetic diseases including cataracts, dilated cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism.
Mixed-breed dogs are more likely to suffer from just one condition — ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments — than their purebred counterparts. The condition is the equivalent to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in humans.
Dr. Robert Hutchison, an expert in canine reproduction, says the study tests his confidence in hybrid vigor, which involves crossbreeding genetically different animals to increase their vigor or other superior genetic qualities.
"This article is so very interesting," opined Hutchison, director of the Center for Canine and Feline Reproduction and Infertility in North Ridgeville, Ohio. "My first thoughts were different than the third time I read it. I am a big believer in hybrid vigor. When I first read it, it looked like it was trying to prove everything in the world under one cap. The more I read it, the more it made sense."
Hutchison's takeaway is that mixed breeding alone will not eliminate the most common and frequently seen genetic disorders in dogs. "That's why (some genetic disorders) show up in mixed breeds," he said of the study's findings.
Anita Oberbauer, an animal physiologist and the study's lead author, agrees with that assessment.
"The public is under the impression that mixed breeds exhibit vigor and will not express genetic disorders," said Oberbauer, who chairs the animal science department at UC Davis and has bred Belgian Tervuren for more than 20 years. "This is simply not true."
The question of hybrid vigor has long intrigued Oberbauer, prompting the researcher and her colleagues to construct a study that goes beyond the scope of others like it. Previous research on the topic has been limited to examining genetic diseases in specific breeds or one condition in numerous types of breeds, Oberbauer said.
When asked to explain why some genetic disorders appear in multiple breeds or are equally present in mixed-breed dogs, Oberbauer said she believes that casual genetic mutations might have arisen multiple times or the affected dogs may have derived from a common distant ancestor carrying the defect.
Even so, selective breeding can minimize the potential for disseminating genetic mutations, Oberbauer reasoned. “Some dog lineages are more likely to express particular disorders, and for those lineages, breeders must maintain vigilance," she said, adding that the prevalence of genetic disorders among purebred and mixed-breed dogs depends on the specific condition.
For Hutchison, the research confirms what he says specialists have long believed: When recessive genetic traits are concentrated, as occurs in purebred lines, they appear more often. Purebred dogs are more likely to have genetic diseases due to the concentration of genetic traits, he said.
"... You would expect the frequency of a genetic trait to concentrate more as dogs are bred closer together because you have a greater chance of the gene doubling up," he said.
Dr. Jerold Bell, a private practitioner and clinical associate professor of genetics at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, likens some of the statistical aspects of the study to "comparing apples to oranges.”
For some diseases, Bell said, the study's results skew toward making purebred dogs more prone to disease simply because they are more likely to be diagnosed during pre-breeding screening rather after signs appear, as happens with mixed breeds.
"We diagnose some diseases with a bias towards purebreds,” Bell said, using elbow dysplasia as an example. "The majority of affected dogs have grade 1 elbow dysplasia. They don't get arthritis, and it does not affect the dog clinically."
While the study's findings reveal that purebreds have more elbow dysplasia than mixed-breed dogs, Bell points out that purebreds often are screened and diagnosed with grade 1 of the degenerative joint disease. "Mixed breeds are not screened so they aren't getting diagnosed for grade 1, but they are for clinical grades 2 and 3," he said. "If you want to compare them, you need to compare what's actually being diagnosed clinically and ignore the grade 1s."
Bell said the same is true of hypothyroidism, which according to the study is more prevalent in purebred dogs. He explained that many purebred dogs are diagnosed with the condition through pre-breeding profiles before there are any clinical signs of the disease. Conversely, mixed-breed dogs typically are diagnosed by a veterinarian after clinical signs are present.
Comparing the prevalence of a genetic condition in dogs that are either screened or tested for the disease creates a bias, Bell said.
“There are certainly genetic disorders that we see at higher frequency in purebred dogs,” Bell said. “However, for the most common genetic disorders seen in practice, they tend to be seen equally in mixed and pure breeds.”
Other criticisms of the study center on the medical conditions considered by researchers. Hutchison said that none of the 17 veterinarians at his practice consider Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) to be genetic disorder, although it was included in the study. The same goes for ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments, the only condition that the study found to occur more commonly in mixed breeds.
Oberbauer countered that cranial cruciate ligament rupture is reported in several studies to have a genetic component. The conditions, she said, were chosen this way: "All the genetic disorders selected for the study represented those expected to be present in the dog population at a measurable prevalence and to be debilitating, and having confidence in the reliability of diagnosis. Additionally, disorders that affected a variety of anatomic locations and physiologic systems were chosen."
She explained that cases of senile cataracts, despite not being genetic conditions, were mixed in with cases of inherited juvenile cataracts under the study category "cataracts."
The research isn't perfect, Hutchison said, but it's prompted him to expand his thinking about genetics and preventing disease in veterinary medicine.
"Let's say every golden carries two genes for hemangiosarcoma," said Hutchison, referring to the aggressive and invasive cancer of the blood vessels that occurs almost exclusively in dogs.
"Do you do a preventive splenectomy? We could prevent it rather than breed it out." he mused.
Oberbauer hopes the spread of information in the study can help lessen the incidence of some genetic disorders by reshaping canine breeding practice. If a condition is associated with the morphology determined by the breed standard, perhaps the breed standard needs revisiting, she said.
If a condition has a phenotypic or genetic test, implementing testing within that population can reduce the disease's prevalence, she added.
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