Schipperke

The Schipperke is a small working breed originating from Belgium that is known for its rather fox-like appearance, naturally smiling face, and feisty, confident nature. They were originally bred to work as watchdogs on ships and barges and to help fishermen protect their haul from scavengers like rodents, cats, and other dogs. While they may look like typical Spitz breeds with their curled tails and pointed ears, they actually share their ancestry with the Belgian Sheepdog, descending from the now-extinct Leauvenaar. Their thick, glossy coats tend to grow longer around the neck and torso and shorter around the face and are typically solid black but may be found in cream, wheaten, gold, red, chocolate, and white.