- Dog breeds
- Small breed
- Non-Sporting group
- Origin: Belgium
The Schipperke is a small, black, fox-faced Belgian dog with a thick ruff and a bold, curious personality. The AKC breed standard sets males at 11–13 in and females at 10–12 in, and Purina lists weights of 12–18 lb. As a small breed on our scale, the Schipperke usually reaches adult weight at around 10–12 months. This page includes a Schipperke growth chart by age, a size calculator preset for the breed, and sourced guidance on lifespan, health, grooming and feeding.
How big do Schipperkes get?
According to the AKC standard (height) and Purina (weight), adult Schipperkes weigh 12–18 lb (5.4–8.2 kg). Males stand 11–13 in (28–33 cm) at the shoulder and females 10–12 in (25–30 cm). That makes the Schipperke a Small breed on our size scale.| Schipperke | Weight | Height |
|---|
The AKC standard sets heights but no weight.
Many healthy pets fall outside the show standard, especially from working or pet lines. Use body condition, not the scale alone, to judge a healthy weight.
Schipperke growth chart: weight by age
| Age | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 4.1 lb1.8 kg |
| 3 months | 6.6 lb3 kg |
| 4 months | 8.5 lb3.8 kg |
| 6 months | 11 lb5.1 kg |
| 9 months | 14 lb6.2 kg |
| Adult (10–12 months) | 15 lb6.8 kg |
When is a Schipperke full grown?
Small breeds like the Schipperke reach their adult weight at about 10–12 months. Most of the growth happens early: by 6 months a typical Schipperke is around 11 lb, after which weight gain slows down as the dog fills out.How we calculate this: each figure is the midpoint of the breed’s adult weight range multiplied by the share of adult weight a small-size puppy typically reaches at that age (WALTHAM growth standards, Salt et al., 2017). It is the same model used by our Dog Size Calculator.
Schipperke puppy size calculator
Enter your puppy’s current age and weight to estimate how big your Schipperke will be as an adult. The calculator is preset for the breed.Dog Size Calculator
Predict how big your puppy will get — estimated adult weight from its current age and weight.
Best from ~8 weeks on; very young pups are less predictable.
Weigh on a flat scale, ideally before a meal.
Not sure? Use the size of the parents, or the larger parent for a mixed breed.
Males often finish a little heavier than females.
| Age milestone | Projected weight |
|---|
Dog breed weight chart (lb & kg) by size
| Size | Adult weight | Full-grown | Example breeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 2–12 lb / 1–5.5 kg | ~8–10 mo | Chihuahua, Maltese, Toy Poodle, Pomeranian, Yorkie |
| Small | 12–25 lb / 5.5–11 kg | ~10–12 mo | Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, Mini Schnauzer, Mini Aussiedoodle |
| Medium | 25–50 lb / 11–23 kg | ~12–14 mo | Beagle, Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Std. Aussiedoodle* |
| Large | 50–100 lb / 23–45 kg | ~15–18 mo | Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer |
| Giant | 100 lb+ / 45 kg+ | ~18–24 mo | Great Dane, Mastiff, St Bernard, Newfoundland |
*Standard Aussiedoodles span medium–large (≈40–70 lb / 18–32 kg); Mini Aussiedoodles are small (≈15–35 lb / 7–16 kg).
How it works: puppies of a given size reach a predictable share of their adult weight at each age. The tool divides your puppy's current weight by that share to estimate the adult figure, shown as a range.
Disclaimer: estimates for planning only — not veterinary advice. Growth varies with genetics, sex, nutrition and neuter status, especially for mixed and giant breeds. Keep records and consult your vet.
Sources: Salt et al., PLOS ONE 2017 (WALTHAM growth standards) · AKC — when puppies finish growing
Schipperke temperament and personality
Schipperkes are confident, curious and mischievous, often called ‘little black devils’. They are loyal and protective, and alert watchdogs that bark at anything unusual. They are independent and can be stubborn, so training should be consistent and engaging. They are usually good with children in their family.-
Energy level4/5
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Trainability3/5
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Good with children4/5
-
Shedding3/5
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Barking4/5
Ratings are BarnCalc’s own 1–5 scale, based on the breed standard and the sources cited below. Individual dogs vary.
History and origin
The Schipperke comes from Belgium, where it was kept as a watchdog and ratter by craftsmen and shopkeepers, and on the canal barges of Flanders. It probably shares ancestry with the Belgian Sheepdog. Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium helped make the breed fashionable in the late 1800s, and the AKC recognized it in 1904.Schipperke lifespan and health
Most Schipperkes live 12–16 years. Want to know how old that is in human terms? Try our dog years calculator, or estimate an individual dog’s outlook with the dog life expectancy calculator.Health conditions documented in the breed
- Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (an inherited storage disease)
- Hypothyroidism
- Patellar luxation
- Hip dysplasia
- Eye disease such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy
Health tests to ask a breeder for
The breed’s parent club recommends these screenings for breeding dogs (ask to see the results for both parents):- Patella evaluation
- Hip evaluation
- Eye exam by a board-certified ophthalmologist
- Thyroid evaluation
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own dog.
Exercise and grooming
| Exercise | 45–60 minutes of walks and play a day |
| Grooming | Brush weekly, and daily during the seasonal coat blow |
| Coat | Harsh double coat, short on the face and front of the legs, longer on the neck (a ruff and cape) and the back of the thighs (culottes) |
| Low shedding | No – moderate shedder with seasonal coat blows |
| Apartment living | Good |
How much should a Schipperke eat?
A healthy, neutered adult Schipperke weighing 12–18 lb needs roughly 400–540 kcal a day. With a typical dry food of about 375 kcal per cup, that is about 1.1–1.4 cups a day, split into two meals. Active or intact dogs need more, while older or less active dogs need less. Always check the feeding guide on your food’s label.Breeding and pregnancy
Like all dogs, a pregnant Schipperke carries her puppies for about 63 days from ovulation. Most females come into heat about every 6 months.Is a Schipperke right for you?
A great fit for
Active families, apartment dwellers who can provide daily exercise, and people who want a small watchdog.Think twice if
Owners who want a quiet or highly obedient dog, or homes with pet rodents.Schipperke FAQ
When is a Schipperke full grown?
How big will my Schipperke puppy get?
How much should a 6-month-old Schipperke weigh?
How long do Schipperkes live?
Do Schipperkes shed?
Are Schipperkes good apartment dogs?
More dog calculators
- Dog size calculatorHow big will my puppy get?
- Dog years calculatorDog age in human years
- Life expectancyLifespan by breed and size
- Gestation calculatorDue date and whelping window
- Heat cycle calculatorNext heat and fertile days
- Raw dog food calculatorDaily portions by weight
Sources
- AKC official breed standard
- FCI breed standard
- Hill's Pet Nutrition breed profile
- AKC: breed club recommended health tests
- Salt C. et al. (2017), growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes, PLOS ONE
Main photo: JezevecStendencíLouhovatČaj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Reviewed by grupo barncalc.com on November 10, 2026. Estimates are for planning only and are not veterinary advice.