Welcome to the Schipperke training page...you will find links to individual pages after the introduction.
SCHIPPERKE TRAINING
introduction by Shirley Quillen DVM
A schipperke, whether it is owned strictly for conformation, obedience, or as a pet and companion, should be the best trained dog you ever owned. Because the schipperke is very intelligent and loyal, as well as curious, and extremely active, achieving this does take some work by the owner.
Obedience training a schipperke to be a well behaved pet or for obedience competition can be a most rewarding experience as well as a very frustrating one. Schipperkes are intelligent and loyal, as well as curious and extremely independent. While high intelligence often means a dog learns quickly, it doesn't mean that only good habits are learned. Bad habits are often learned faster than good ones. "Smart" dogs also bore very quickly and couple that with a natural curiosity, and the dog easily invents its own way to do an exercise or play the game. Independence can also be a detriment to training as independent dogs usually are not as willing to please as the less self-assured dog. The training method to use on a schipperke must take into consideration these general characteristics of the breed as well as the individual's personality and age.
While the best time to start training is when the animal is a puppy, a Schipperke of any age can be trained. An older dog will often pick up things faster than a puppy. However, since an older dog is often being "retrained" (especially in the case of rescues) it may take an older dog longer to become reliable in the particular exercise or habit you are working on. Time spent with puppies pays off in the long run. Puppies are very easy to train as long as inductive methods are used. Training must include lots of fun and praise, very little compulsion, and no harsh corrections. Food or toys should be used to keep the puppy's attention as well as to keep the puppy happy.