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He wants to be involved in all family activities and loves children of all ages, playing pattycake and smiling all the while. Always alert, he patrols his home and property, barking warnings as needed and seeking out and destroying any mice, squirrels, or other vermin that dare invade his space. Today the Schipperke is a companion who captains his family in much the same way as he once led canal boats. Shoemakers and other tradesmen kept them for their ratting abilities. The name Schipperke is thought to have come from a word meaning "little shepherd," but the dogs were best known for guarding the boats that plied the canals between Brussels and Antwerp. The loyal and intelligent Schipperke originated in Belgium as a small version of a black Belgian sheepdog known as the Leauvenaar. In 1882, a writer in the breed's homeland of Belgium described the Schipperke as "a little all-black devil, but minus the cloven hoof and the tail." He's changed little since then. They're known for their beauty and feisty nature.īeware if you think he's simply a sweet little companion dog the Schipperke has the "small dog.big personality" persona down pat. Schipperkes are beautiful small black dogs with pricked ears and a coat that gives the impression of a sloped back. Young children and dogs of any breed should always be supervised by an adult and never left alone together, period.Ĭlick here for more information on this characteristic No matter what the breed or breed type, all dogs have strong jaws, sharp pointy teeth, and may bite in stressful circumstances. Dogs from any breed can be good with children based on their past experiences, training on how to get along with kids, and personality. Our ratings are generalizations, and they're not a guarantee of how any breed or individual dog will behave. Small, delicate, and potentially snappy dogs such as Chihuahuas aren't always so family-friendly. You may be surprised by who's on that list: Fierce-looking Boxers are considered good with children, as are American Staffordshire Terriers (which are considered Pit Bulls). Her caretakers are also accepting donations to fund her monthly X-rays and other medical procedures through GoFundMe.Being gentle with children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a blasé attitude toward running, screaming children are all traits that make a kid-friendly dog. You can follow updates from owners on the puppy's progress through the Facebook page Skipper's Journey. Vets are still monitoring Skipper closely, but they're hopeful she will live longer than expected. Her organs are healthy and her legs move in response to stimuli, though she'll likely need help with mobility when she matures. She's eating and going to the bathroom regularly, growing on schedule, and moving around on her own. Even though the odds were stacked against her from the start, Skipper has persevered. Her mother rejected the newborn, which means she has to be bottle-fed. The doctors could find no record of another dog born alive with Skipper's mix of congenital defects. Vets suspect that she failed to fully separate from her litter mate in utero, leaving her with two pelvic regions, two lower urinary tracts, two reproductive systems, two tails, six legs, and a single head and chest cavity.
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Neel Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma posted Skipper's story on February 21, 2021, four days after she was born. But despite possibly being the only dog born alive with this condition, Skipper the miracle puppy appears to be happy and healthy, Yahoo! reports. The Australian shepherd-collie mix was born with six legs: a rare and life-threatening deformity. From the moment she was born, Skipper's life has been an uphill battle.