How old is Nelio and for how long did you live together?
Nelio turned two years old in October and has been living with us since December 21, 2022. We picked him up from the breeder when he was 12 weeks old.
What’s your favourite part of having a Schipperke?
The Schipperke really is a big dog in a small body. So you have a small dog (that you can carry over difficult passages when hiking or in a very full gondola for example), which still has enough energy and power to go on 6-hour hikes. And the Schipperke is (if well socialized) not afraid of anything and very adaptable. Nelio accompanies us on all our adventures, no matter what.
How would you describe your daily life with your dog? (active, chill, calm, noisy etc.)
We usually start the day with a short morning walk. Then we have breakfast and play a little. As I’m usually working from home (during the week), we plan a long walk (+/- 2 hours) at lunchtime. Nelio needs this physical exercise. We also do this to keep him fit (you can’t just lie on the sofa all week and then go hiking for 6 hours at the weekend). And we also try to give him a lot of mental exercise (e.g. with search games). At home Nelio is very quiet (when he has been exercised) and sleeps a lot. However, the Schipperke has a definite tendency to bark, so you have to be careful that he doesn’t see himself as a watchdog...
Did you find the breed easy to train?
The Schipperke has a strong character, but basically also wants to do something, which (in my opinion) makes him easy to train. However the Schipperke is also very intelligent and will get bored with too much repetition. Training must therefore be varied. So, if you tell him “sit” 10 times in a row, the third time he will say “we’ve already done that, BORING!”
What was your biggest challenge with the breed?
We didn’t actually have “this one challenge” but rather several smaller ones. As already mentioned, you have to be careful with the Schipperke right from the start that he doesn’t see himself as a watchdog. This requires clear and consistent training (like any dog). In addition, the Schipperke has a hunting instinct, which is why we did anti-hunting training right from the start. But if you train consistently, the Schipperke becomes a great companion without any problems.
Is there anything we should know before adopting that is specific to this breed? (shedding, specific illness etc.)?
Even if the Schipperke looks small and cuddly, he has a lot of power and needs sufficient exercise and consistent training. I (unfortunately) often see people who think that small dogs need less training. That’s not the case at all! The Schipperke (aka little black devil) will make life difficult for you if he doesn’t get enough exercise (mentally and physically).
To whom would you recommend this breed?
For anyone who is consistent and active. As the Schipperke is very adaptable, it can adapt to almost any living situation and can really go anywhere with you.
If you had to describe a Schipperke in one word, which word would you choose?
ADVENTUROUS! No matter what adventures we are planning, Nelio is always there and is happy about every new challenge.
And finally, what is Nelio’s favourite hiking spot in Switzerland?
Nelio actually loves all hikes. But since he is a fan of snow, I would say the snow hike from Sunnbüel (Bernese Oberland) to Daubensee/Gemmi and back again. The route is also very varied, which Nelio loves.
We would like to thank Nelio (@wandernelio) for sharing their experience with us.
