Schipperke Movement

Proper Schipperke movement is a smooth, well coordinated and graceful trot (basically double tracking at a moderate speed), with a tendency to gradually converge toward the center of balance beneath the dog as speed increases.  Front and rear must be in perfect balance with good reach in front and drive in the rear.

(From the AKC STANDARD)

Proper Side Gait Showing Good Reach And Drive

• NOTE THE NICE EXTENSION FRONT AND REAR 

• NOTE THE TOPLINE REMAINS LEVEL AND DOESN'T SAG OR BREAK

• NOTE THE POSITION OF THE OTHER 2 PAWS

• NOTE THAT THE DOGS FEET BARELY CLEAR THE GROUND 

Side Gait

From the Illustrated Guide to the Standard

 Lacking Reach And Drive

• NOTE THE POSITION OF THE TWO "EXTENDED LEGS"...THIS DOGS LACKS BOTH REACH AND DRIVE.  

• IF THE DOG HAD GOOD REACH, THE EXTENDED FRONT LEG WOULD REACH TO THE END OF THE DOG'S NOSE...THE REAR LEG WOULD EXTEND BEHIND THE DOG.

• NOTE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN THE OTHER 2 PAWS

• WHILE THIS DOG MIGHT MOVE "BALANCED" AT BOTH ENDS, HE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB HE WAS BRED TO DO...DUE TO THE LACK OF REACH AND DRIVE, HE WOULD TIRE EASILY.

Schipperke Gait Coming

NOTE THAT ALL LEGS ARE MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION

IDEAL GAIT COMING OR GOING...ALL LEGS AND FEET SHOULD BE TRACKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF DOUBLE TRACKING

NOTE THE EQUAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR LEGS AND FEET

NOTE THERE IS NO SWINGING OF THE LEGS

NOTE THAT THE DOGS FEET BARELY CLEAR THE GROUND

Schipperke Gait Going

Note that when the dog is coming or going you only see one set of legs.

This is considered "clean" gait and while hard to achieve, is desirable.

Moving correctly in front and too narrow behind

While this type of movement is often seen in the ring, it is not correct.

For a time, this type of movement was seen so often and was so prevalent that it was considered by many people to be correct for the schipperke.

When the schipperke moves correctly, all four legs reach forward and extend rearward at equal distances.  The front paw flexes (thus the need for a slight bend to the pastern) on the follow through under the body and the hind foot slips neatly under it to occupy the spot vacated by the front foot.

For the schipperke to move with good reach and drive, it is necessary  for the front to sit well underneath the body as described by the standard.