Foster Update 12/16/10 - Joy is very lovable and cuddly.  She is low key compared to the rest of the puppies that I have.  She is food motivated and will sit forever waiting for a treat.  She has a lot of patience for such a young pup.

These puppies are chewers.... They can eat a pig ear in no time flat.

All four of these pups are very good about staying near me and keeping me in sight.  They do not seem interested in trying to get out of the fenced yard.  They are really easy puppies to care for.  Potty training is going well and they are on a fixed schedule for meals.  They sleep through the night.  They are good watchdogs.  If someone gets up in the middle of the night, they bark to let me know.

Foster Update:  Joy is very social and loves playing with people as much, if not more, than her littermates. She is an ebony and white beauty.  She truly is a bundle of joy.

She is the smallest of the litter-mates that I have, but is very healthy. Joy is happy, playful, and very cuddly.

Good things really do come in small packages with these pint sized pups.
When I take a seat, these pups come and lay down at my feet. That is something that a lot of dogs need to be trained to do and it comes naturally to these pups.  These pups also are very intent on what I am doing at all times, which also will make training them easier than other dogs.  All are extremely social and love to play with adults, kids, our large breed dogs and also, our cat.

These puppies all came to us from a high kill shelter. There mom looks like a Schipperke/Little Shepard Mix but i suspect maybe there is some reteriver (either lab or golden) in them..but it so hard to tell when they are so little! They are so cute and tiny!

According to DogBreedInfo.com, the Schipperke are quick, energetic little dogs. High-spirited, alert, and self-confident. Very devoted and loyal, especially with children. It really bonds to its master. Pet cats will be happily accepted and they are usually good with other dogs. They are very smart, curious and mischievous. These dogs do exceptionally well on boats. Among the Schipperke's best qualities are the ability to defend its home against intruders - backing down from nobody, and being an excellent friend to children. Some can be difficult to housebreak. Socialize well to prevent them from becoming wary and aloof with strangers. Easy to train as it is intelligent and eager to learn. Often times small dogs such as the Schipperke developed what is known as Small Dog Syndrome, varying degrees of human induced behaviors, where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. When a dog is allowed to rule the home, they can develop behavior problems, such as, but not limited to, obsessive barking, separation anxiety, growling, snapping and even biting. Schipperke who have been allowed to take over are said to have become hot-tempered, willful and protective. If someone new visits, they will adopt a watchful position and try to defend its territory, whether it is an apartment or a piece of land, against both two-legged and four-legged intruders. They may become an obsessive barker as they try and tell YOU what to do or try and TELL OTHERS to leave THEIR area. Schipperke like to howl. After the initial bark to alert you, they need to be told enough is enough and to quiet down. Schipperke who are given rules to follow, limits to what they are and are not allowed to do, along with a consistent, firm pack leader, and a daily pack walk, will not developed these negative behaviors. Dogs who have already developed them, will change for the better, as soon as their canine instincts are being met.