Every dog is an individual, and temperaments do vary. Schipperkes are very much influenced by their environment. With consistent training, these bad traits can be broken before they become habits. If you have not raised a dog before, get the help of a local dog training facility. Like any other breed of dog, an undisciplined Schipperke is like a spoiled child.
Schipperkes are little black bundles of energy.
They can be hard to housebreak, especially the females, perhaps in an attempt to identify territory. They are voracious little watchdogs, which translates to a great deal of high-pitched barking. In an urban setting, this can cause problems within a municipality as the police are summoned to your residence when you least expect it. Thus, a crate is a necessity when you are not planning to home for a period of time. They enjoy having their own possessions, such as squeaky toys and rawhides.