The Schipperke is a Belgian breed, bred down from the Belgian Sheepdog. Both of these dogs descended from a very old breed called the Leauvenaar, which herded sheep in the region of Louvain. The Schipperke has the stand off coat of a northern Spitz type, however this is the only resemblance, there is no indication that there is any intermixing of this type in the genetic origins of the little dog. The coat does well with a regular brushing and an occasional bath during the shedding season. The A.K.C. requires a definite pattern of growth which is part of the standard of the breed, involving a "cape" around the neck, and a "ruff" on the chest, consisting of various lengths of the hair, this is a characteristic which may not be trimmed and must be a natural part of the appearance of the breed.