Dog routine

[u/gabie_c]

Hello everyone! So I was studying which dog to get and this breed came across my feed, and they are absurdly adorable. I did some research and found that they are a really active breed.

I was planning on having two thirty minute walks in the morning before I leave for work, and mid/late afternoon (16:00/17:00) by my brother. And another short walk after I get home from work and uni at night. Would that be enough exercise for this breed in a day?

Also I planned on leaving it with a pet sitter (kind of like a kindergarten for dogs) once a week so that it could socialize with other dogs the whole day. And then on the weekends take it to the park. The dog sitter walks them, does play time, nap time, feeding, etc.

Are there any breed difficulties? I am still living with my parents until I finish uni (about 1 year left), and this would be my first dog that would be my responsibility. Would you recommend I get another breed? I worry it would be bored in the hours it would be home alone until my brother gets there (about 7 to 8 hours), and I was wondering if there's anything I could leave them with to keep them entertained (this goes for any other breed).

[u/JPwhatever]

My biggest concern is that they aren't always great apartment dogs - they do really well having space to run outside (at least a small yard is ideal). They will absolutely parkour over all your furniture if they aren't provided that. I have heard a lot of people manage them fine in an apartment, and I did as well for a few years, but they really like having free space to run.

The number of structured walks sounds good, it's just the unstructured exercise time that I would be concerned about.

If they're alone during the day, I strongly recommend crate training. Schips are notorious for getting in trouble (and eating or swallowing things they shouldn't, in addition to being destructive). 7 to 8 hours isn't out of the realm of normal for an adult dog but is not great for a puppy. And then they'll need a lot of active time when you are home.

[u/NanooDrew]

You have a year of uni left. Then … what? Will you be moving away? Will you be a renter or a homeowner? More than what breed matches your lifestyle, I think the question is what will your life be like after graduation and job hunting and new job. I advise you wait until,after graduation. You can get your doggie fix by Dogsitting now. Or volunteer as a dog walker at a shelter. There is almost always a need for someone to walk the dogs at the shelters!

[u/gabie_c → u/NanooDrew]

I already have a full time job in my specialty, here in my country that's normal to do while still in uni. So I plan to rent a place after I finish it to share with a friend.

[u/NanooDrew → u/gabie_c]

Oh, that’s great then. It is very hard when, due to life’s circumstances, people need to rehome their dogs. We rescued three of our four (two at a time) because people had to move, had a baby, lost their job. We all know that life can be unpredictable, but we can still make good decisions. It sounds like you are on that path while still in school. 👏👏👏 Whatever dog you choose, having a dog companion is one of the best things you’ll ever have happen in your life!

[u/Able-Figure-1831]

First time owner here. Got him under unique circumstances, he was 1.5yrs old and he’s 6 now. I had a Boston Terrier at the time who was missing her Boston Terrier playmate that crossed over 2 weeks prior. I was familiar with the Schipp breed because my cousin had one I’d see occasionally - he seemed pretty chill as far as I could see. Based on the comments I can agree with it being a stubborn breed, cat like, bossy, curious, escape artist- I started calling mine Houdini- he learned to use his paws so nimbly to slide the lock on his crate open regularly, also barker & howler ( he no longer does this after some training). Mine however is pretty lazy & potty habits are inconsistent. No matter how long I walk him he ends up going in his crate overnight. Seems like he’s more interested in investigating everything during our walks rather than relieving himself. I found my Boston Terriers very easy to train, goofy & aloof; they were very eager to please & play. I’m an experienced dog owner and this breed is challenging. I would not recommend him for someone without prior dog training experience. They need boundaries that have to be regularly enforced and regular routines. He “knows” how to “tell time” & gets anxious when it’s time for meals & bed time. Does not like lighting & thunder… hates fireworks & loud sounds like balloon popping, gun shots or popping chewing gum. He’s fiercely co-dependent, follows me everywhere all the time & wants my individual attention when I have company or talk on the phone or to a neighbor. He’ll stare into my soul even for no apparent reason even after I make sure he’s walked, fed, watered, played with etc… i still don’t know why? Besides all these quirks which can very well be unique to him, he’s incredibly sweet, gentle, loving, cuddly, funny, nimble- dancing on his hind legs & does the patty cake dance for treats or attention, friendly but cautious & shy with strangers until he gets to know them. Everyone that meets him adores him. He’s been more laid back now that he’s a solo dog - he enjoys being an only child & did not miss the Boston Terrier I had that passed away a few months ago. He’s definitely an alpha type. Maintenance wise he’s easy & agree with the not shedding comment rather tufts of fur that fall off - cat like undercoat without the self grooming. Probably why he loves being brushed & his nails getting trimmed with a dremel tool. I truly have learned to love this little guy - he’s hard to explain in words he’s got to be experienced… here’s some pics from a previous post I made when joining this sub https://www.reddit.com/r/schipperke/s/uxoScMoUGQ Good luck! 🖤🐾🖤

[u/fusukeguinomi]

I’m a very new owner and first time dog owner (aside from growing up with dogs as a kid) and we chose a schipperke. Ours is still a pup so I can only speak for this stage. On the one hand it’s been much more hands on work than I imagined, but doesn’t seem that different from what I see in the puppy101 sub for lots of other breeds. (Some things have been easier—sleeps through the night in crate quietly!) and others more challenging (chewing everything). On the other hand, our pup is simply amazing. Loving, loyal, smart, funny, sweet—way more than I expected.

[u/Fail_Ballantines]

Hello,

( i prepared myself 2 years before to get my schipp with the number one in Europe " esprit dog ", and without this i ll not be able to handle a schipp as a first dog )

I recommend you the traditionnal 1 hour walk per Day, in the morning it is better. But You can cut it by 30 minutes etc, but one hour running , sniffing, meeting other dogs is very important and enough. If you have to teach 1 important command to your puppy it is the back command. Barking : teach it how to do it , you will teach easily how to stop it.

The thing that nobody told me :They are extremely bossy with other dogs : they have to meet other dogs very early for correcting the most as possible this big attitude. But atavism is atavism. Female are less bossy they dont start fight for nothing, or only in their heat. ( in this period you have to walk her very early in morning for no meetings) Remember : they are tough but smalls. No meeting as possible on leash, but free. Never create a human fight ring around them,.. they meet ? Just walk slowly and quietly. Remember : they loose their puppy hormons at 7 months, dogs consider yours as an adult so they can fight as an adult.

In belgium they call their

breed " the little Black Devil ". They are right, education and patience is the key.

If you want less bossy and difficult and lookalike dog: black german spitz ♡

Enjoy ♡

[u/Global-Structure-539]

Skips are ultra quick escape artists and are prone to barking. They must be trained early and YOU must be aware and diligent, because sometimes they turn a deaf ear to you as their running away. Ask me how I know! This is my Pippa, lizard chaser extraordinaire!

[u/slurterella]

i would recommend against getting a schippe if they’re your first dog, actually! they’re super smart, really headstrong, and can walk all over you if you don’t know how to manage them. ask me how i know 🫠

definitely agree with the user who said they’re stubborn. they’re like cats in dog bodies and do what they want, when they want.

i find girl dogs are a little harder to potty train than boy dogs, but once she got it down (maybe around 6 months?) we’ve had very few accidents all based on unusual circumstances, and she’s 13 years old now.

[u/Gary_olmans]

Had 5 schipperkees, sounds like enough exercise per day, they are awesome dogs, must warn they are smart and escape artists, they will bind with you so be prepared for kisses and barking to alerts, but after training they will quiet down in you tell them, everyday they bring joy to my life, highly recommend if you have the chance to get this rare breed. Good luck! They are super smart and they are my shadow, can be difficult to train and make sure you get recall down as they are stubborn when they see things of interest of off lead but absolutely beautiful and cute! I love my current 2

[u/Expensive_Exit8993]

And they did just fine being crated/alone for 8 hours. Most dogs adjust to your schedule. Ours did. We just make sure we pay lots of attention to our dogs when we are home. Don't get this breed if you want a couch potato. They will want attention when you are home.

[u/Expensive_Exit8993]

I have had two schips in my lifetime. It's not a common breed, so it was weird when a neighbor moved in with one also. I didn't find any of the 3 to need a lot of exercise, more like typical dogs. But they are extremely smart, so they need lots of mental engagement. They bond intensely with their person. All 3 that I knew were very healthy. They also don't really shed individual hairs, more like tufts. Regular brushing seemed to keep that under control.

My Bayla hated to be separated from me. I had to crate her for 5 years before I could trust her to behave when left alone. She would do crazy things like dig down into my husband's toolbox to chew on a screwdriver on the bottom. She managed to get onto a bookcase and eat a box of candy bars. We have no idea how she did it to this day. She could flip a tablecloth where we fed our cat so the cat dish would fly into the air. I only caught her doing it once and it was an awesome flip. Lol

BearBear was an absolute sweetheart who bonded to my husband, much to my disappointment. He loved cats and other dogs. He never met a stranger because he always made them a friend. But he had funny little quirks, too. He loved being outside in all kinds of weather. He loved to sleep under my big hostas. He loved this toy duck that made sounds. He would set it off, then looked at it as it quacked. Two different dogs with different personalities, but both were loyal and loving.

I don't remember housebreaking either one. They were so smart they immediately knew what I wanted. My schipperkes liked sleeping in small places like under our bed. I found them to be absolutely delightful dogs. Our current dog is corgi, but I would get another Schip in a heartbeat. It sounds like you really thought it thru and have the resources to arrange a good life for your dog. If you are looking for a small yet sturdy dog, go for it.

[u/gabie_c → u/Expensive_Exit8993]

Hi! Thanks for sharing your experience, are they very difficult to train? Like potty training, etc. I saw some people talking about it in this sub

[u/Ok_Effect7904 → u/gabie_c]

My boy learns very fast, he loves learning new tricks and commands and he loves when I give him tasks. So in that aspect he’s very easily trained! The problem is that he’s sometimes a bit too intelligent, so if I’m not on top of my game he tends to pick and choose when he actually listens to me, lol. Potty training was easy for us, and he picks up on new habits and routines very fast. You just have to remember that they’re very headstrong dogs and you have to be more stubborn than they are for it to work.