breed of small stocky black dogs originally used as watchdogs on boats in the Netherlands and Belgium

a breed of small, very curious, dogs

a small thickset cobby black dog

A small stocky dog of a breed developed in Belgium, having dense long black fur and small pointed ears.

A Schipperke (pronounced skipper-kie) is a small Belgian breed of dog that originated in the early 16th century. They are small in size, but big in character. There has been a long debate over whether this type of dog is a terrier, spitz or miniature sheepdog.