How long does a Schipperke live?

The listed lifespan for a Schipperke is 12–16 years.

How tall is a Schipperke?

The listed height for a Schipperke is 11–13 in (male), 10–12 in (female).

Is a Schipperke good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Schipperke is 3 out of 5.

When is a Schipperke full grown?

The growth size band for a Schipperke is 8–12 months.

Non-Sporting Group

Schipperke

Schipperke is a small dog in the Non-Sporting Group. Adult weight is 10–16 lb, height is 11–13 in (male), 10–12 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–16 years. AKC describes the temperament as Alert, Curious, Confident.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Schipperke dog — Photo: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–16 years

Weight10–16 lb

SizeSmall GroupNon-Sporting Group

Height

11–13 in (male), 10–12 in (female)

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about 0.4 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 13 lb is about 3 lb lighter than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Belgium. The coat is described as double, short. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.5 points below the group average of 3.5 for the Non-Sporting Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 110 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Thyroid Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked