Grooming the coat of the Schipperke
By Dr. Robert Pollet
A Schipperke has a double coat and can easily adapt to the most drastic types of weather and to all climates. He is an all-weather dog. When he has been exposed to rain or snow, the dampness is shed by the outer coat and kept from the skin by his undercoat.
The outer coat is of medium length and provides the protection. The very dense undercoat insulates against heat and cold. It assists as a support for the upper coat.
It depends on the breed and its coat how often and how much time is necessary to groom. Some breeds require a great deal of grooming. Smooth- and short-haired breeds should only be brushed to remove dead hairs, but long-haired breeds require much more grooming, regular combing and brushing, with attention to mats, tangles, and other coat problems. It is especially important to long-coated dogs to keep them clean and groomed on a regular basis to remove loose hairs and burrs.
The Schipperke is a very clean dog and pretty much take care of their own grooming. They have minimum grooming needs (except during the blow period), but to keep the coat in top condition simple combing and brushing to prevent mats is still important. Grooming a Schipperke means simple combing and/or brushing. The Schipperke’s outer coat is of medium length on the body, but longer around the neck (the ruff), behind the shoulders (the cape), on the forechest (the apron) and on the rear of the thighs (the breeches). So, the Schipperke, as a medium-coated breed, certainly needs grooming to keep he coat and the skin healthy and to remove loose hair and burrs.
Grooming a Schipperke should be a pleasant experience and a time of silent and delightful communication between you and your dog. Lack of grooming may result in knots and mats, which you should gently try to comb out.
The coat of Schipperkes which are often outdoors should also be checked regularly and carefully not only for burrs, but also for parasites, especially ticks, and even the eyes have to be examined for foreign matters, the pads for cuts or thorns, and the ears for any material that may have be come lodged there.
Elaborate grooming (for instance grooming for the show), trimming (barber the coat in order to create a desired appearance, which requires thorough breed knowledge), modelling, shaping, clipping or whatsoever, such as for most small companion or luxury dogs, are not necessary. In Belgium, the Schipperke is considered a natural breed that doesn’t need excessive grooming to be prepared for showing.
The following grooming equipment is basic:
- a comb with medium-spaced teeth (set closely enough to remove loose coat),
- a medium hard sturdy bristle (hand)brush, having nylon and/or natural bristles,
- a flat, fine slicker brush, with bent wire teeth set close together,
- a rubber-fingered grooming (hound) glove or a glove having tiny projections,
- possibly a rake (to pull out undercoat).
Each owner however will have his own preferences for the best type of grooming equipment to use. A slicker brush is good for initially removing any debris from the coat. A wide-toothed comb or a slicker brush will help to remove any loose hairs from the undercoat.
Grooming can be done from puppyhood onwards and can be seen as play grooming, to prepare the puppy for the longer grooming periods as an older puppy and dog. You can use a table to groom your dog, but adult dogs can also prefer the stability of the floor and can be groomed while lying on a blanket.
For ordinary grooming a metal comb with a handle and rather wide teeth is used to remove loose hairs and burrs and to gently untangle mats or knots. The metal comb should be used gently and careful, in order not to damage or irritate the skin.
Schipperkes shed very little until the coat blows. Special attention should be given to your Schipperke during the shedding periods, when falling hair can be abundant. Mostly, the thick undercoat will be shed before the top coat. Often the undercoat will come loose in thick tufts. Shedding normally occurs about once a year in males and twice a year (before the heat periods) in bitches, which also lose their coat after whelping. Vigorous grooming can help remove the dead hairs.
Instead of a comb a slicker or a bristle brush can be used as well to rid the coat of dead hair. Use a soft-bristled brush for very young puppies. Before brushing you can carefully pluck out tangles or tufts of dead hair with the fingers. You can also give your Schipperke a finger massage before brushing.
Starting at the head and working down to the tail, you brush out all the dead hairs with a hand brush. You can brush first against the lay of the coat to remove dead hair and dirt, and then with the lay of the coat. Thorough brushing is necessary for the longer hair around the neck (the ruff), the longer hair on the top of the neck and on the withers (the mane), the frill or apron (the longer hair on the forechest) and the abundant hair on the back of the thighs (the culottes or breeching), which are all essential breed characteristics and create the breed’s unique silhouette.
To smooth down the coat after brushing and to finish the grooming, you can go over the dog with a soft-bristled brush, with a rubber-fingered grooming glove or, to give a fine gloss to the coat, with a clean chamois leather (kept solely for this purpose), which can all be purchased in pet supply shops.
Grooming stimulates the blood circulation, guarantees a good coat condition and is a part of your dog’s education (it teaches your dog to submit to your authority).
Schipperkes in good health have practically no canine odour and normally do not require bathing. A dog should be bathed as seldom as possible. You may never have to give a bath to a Schipperke that is regularly, properly, and vigorously brushed. A bath is only indicated when a Schipperke has rolled in something unpleasant or has become soiled with dirt or substances not easily removed by brushing. The Schipperke is a small dog and so the most practical place to bathe him can be a (kitchen) sink. You can wash then only these body areas which are dirty or nasty.
It should be remembered that soap removes the natural oil from the hair and skin. So,
always use a mild dog shampoo, followed by a thorough rinsing. A good low pH (low acidity grade) dog soap or shampoo is less aggressive then human shampoos, which are too alkaline and may be irritating to the dog.
A shower spray is necessary for thoroughly rinsing the coat after a Schipperke has been bathed. When bathing has be done indoors and after having well rinsed your dog, throw a towel around him, rub him dry as much as possible and place him in a warm room. Do not let him become chilled. If at all possible, an electric hair dryer can be used and during chilly days the dog has to be kept indoors until he is thoroughly dry.
If the Schipperke has bathed in the sea (salt water) it is recommended to rinse him thoroughly with fresh (not salt) water, for instance by using a hose or a shower spray.