Name: Marley's Ghost

DOB: 9/17/02

Likes: Food, water, barking, certain people, walks outside, food, squeaky toys, camping, days when mom works from home, chasing cats, being wherever his people are...

Dislikes: the VET, when mom and dad leave him at home, boarding, earthquakes, the VET, when mom puts away all the toys, having an ADVANTAGE treatment...

Marley was named for my favorite character from one of my favorite stories: A Christmas Carol. Marley's Ghost, while frightening in some aspects, is a savior of sorts... offering a means of salvation to his best friend, Scrooge. Above all, I thought it would be a cool name for a dog, and thus we have Marley...

Playing on his new bed...

Now THIS is a raw hide...

 Marley is a pure bred Schipperke (often referred to as the Belgian Barge Dog). Schipperke is Flemish for "Little Captain" (and I tell Dave that the dog out-ranks him).

I first fell in love with Schipperkes (pronounced Skipper-key) when I was working with the Capitol Keeshond Club in Virginia. The Schipps always seemed to be in the next ring, and I was smitten with the little black devils!

Many people think the Schipp is a spitz-related dog on first glance, but actually the breed origins can be traced from shepherding stock. Schipps are thought to be a miniature form of the black sheepdogs kept in Flanders, with possible links back to the Groenendael. Schipps became a popular barge dog--performing the dual role of guard and companion.

The breed first came to the US in 1891, three years after Queen Marie Henriette became infatuated with the breed.
Schipps are incredibly curious and alert little dogs. They notice EVERYTHING and Marley does not like his house to be rearranged (anything out of place MUST be barked and growled at). Marley is NOT content to be a passive observer... he's got to be right in the middle of everything! He DEMANDS attention and is a great guard dog... maybe too good. He thinks he's the size of a German Shepherd, weighing in at around 80 lbs instead of being the size of a small cocker spaniel... weighing in at 14 lbs...

I think it was a natural progression to move from sharing our lives with a Keeshond to bring a Schipp into the family. The breeds share similar traits, and I tell people constantly that Marley is just Frey in a smaller dog suit!

 Sitting like a good boy!

 
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