Schipperkes in New Zealand
Research has shown there were three distinct and separate phases of Schipperke breeding in New Zealand in the twentieth 
century since their introduction from England in 1907. Between each phase the breed apparently died out or at least weakened to the extent that there was no significant breeding or showing.
On August 7, 1907, the Weekly Press featured an article entitled “Some Costly Toy Dogs,” which stated: “Dr. Hammersley of Christchurch has recently imported some Schipperkes and Toy Pomeranians. The Schipperkes are the first ever imported into New Zealand.” The report went on to mention that the four English dogs had cost Dr. Hammersley over ₤200 on release from quarantine—quite a significant sum in those days. Photos of the dogs appeared with the article.
Dr. Hammersley was a surgeon who worked at Christchurch Public Hospital and lived in a large house built in 1906 in Papanui Road, Christchurch. Being a man of means, he employed several servants, and had his own carriage and horses to convey him around the city. His dogs were securely accommodated in individual kennels at the rear of his property which his niece described, many years later, as “little houses with doors, windows, and pitched roofs”. A couple of years before she died in 1987, she recalled going to visit her uncle, when a very young girl, to see his dogs and clean the kennels.
Sadly, Dr Hammersley developed stomach cancer and died in Auckland in 1912. It is not known what happened to his dogs as after 1916 there are no known records of Schipperkes being shown or bred; they disappeared from the scene.
The next phase began in August of 1922 with the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall from England. When they made an initial visit to New Zealand in 1921, Mrs. Marshall was already active in breeding Schipperkes under the Kilmaronock prefix in the United Kingdom. They found New Zealand to their liking and returned the next year to settle at Mangere, near Auckland, with their dogs. The New Zealand Kennel Club files attest to the registration of their three Schipperkes: Kilmaronock Chum, Kilmaronock Teckla, and Kilmaronock Delme. Subsequently Mr. Marshall embarked on a series of questionable activities which ensured he would become a legend in New Zealand Kennel Club history. In the book Dogsbody—The Story of the New Zealand Kennel Club, by Stewart Lusk, an entire chapter is devoted to ‘‘Robert Marshall and The Great Rebellion.” In 1932, as a result of his misdemeanors, Mr. & Mrs. Marshall were banished from the New Zealand Kennel Club. They continued to breed Schipperkes and even imported another Schipperke stud dog, Royd Rangi, in 1937, but because they were disqualified members, the litters bred by the Marshalls in 1941, 1946, and 1947 could not be registered. Finally, in 1949, Mr. Marshall relented and requested that the suspension on his family and their dogs be lifted. The Executive Council agreed to allow them to be reinstated, but required the Marshalls to sign a statutory declaration that they would conform to New Zealand Kennel Club regulations from that point in time. Laurie Castle lived in Auckland and had one of Mr. Marshall’s Schipperkes. She was photographed about 1936 holding this Schipperke, named Mabs, in her arms. Tragically, in 1943 at the age of 13 years, this bitch was savaged by a large dog and had to be destroyed. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall imported another Schipperke from England in 1950, Ylminster Rebel, bred by Mrs. R. Davey. After this, their efforts in the breed ceased, due to their declining health, and Schipperkes apparently became extinct in New Zealand for the second time by 1964.
In 1968, interest in Schipperkes was revived again when, independent of each other, two dog fanciers became interested in the breed. Mavis and Albert Lightfoot, from Auckland, were well known for their Longbay Dachshunds and Italian Greyhounds. They regularly journeyed to Australia and became acquainted with the Sunnyslopes Schipperkes, owned by Amy Cunich. At the same time Robert and Gloria Thompson, of Christchurch, who bred Pembroke Welsh Corgis under their Weymouth suffix, desired a second breed. Robert Thompson wrote to Amy Cunich seeking to purchase breeding stock. On November 1, 1968, two Schipperkes arrived in the same crate on an aircraft from Sydney. A bitch, Sunnyslopes Lady Gay, was consigned for Mavis Lightfoot, and a dog, Warrenville Dixie’s Lad, was destined for Robert Thompson.
The following year Mrs. Lightfoot flew to Australia, accompanied by several dogs, for a showing holiday. Lady Gay came into season during this trip and was bred to Australian Ch. Sunnyslopes Star Turn. She had a litter of three puppies after her return to Auckland. Mrs. Lightfoot also sent Lady Gay to be bred to Dixie in 1970, and, again, she produced three puppies. Mrs. Lightfoot never bred any more Schipperkes after the second litter.
Mr. Thompson imported three Schipperke bitches from Australia between 1968 and 1970. Each of these females was bred to his dog Dixie. From the first litter (Warrenville Dixie’s Lad ex Gunyah Needles), Robert Thompson sold a bitch puppy to Donald Kitto of Timaru, beginning Mr. Kitto’s association with the breed. Under his Westgarth prefix Mr. Kitto has successfully bred winners in both the conformation and obedience rings. He was the first person in New Zealand to qualify a Schipperke Obedience Champion, when his dog became Ch. & Ob. Ch. Westgarth Jathro Rono, CDX.
From the Thompson’s second litter in 1970 (Warrenville Dixie’s Lad ex. Gunyah Royal Inkspot), a bitch puppy named Dinky of Weymouth was sold to Vivienne Fears and her husband Bernard. The Fears’ bought four more Schipperkes from the Thompsons, including Gunyah Needles. These were the original foundation stock for Exmoor, which became the largest Schipperke kennel in New Zealand. Their efforts to extend the gene pool saw them import more than a dozen Schipperkes in the ensuing decades and they are still active today.
In the decade after 1970 the popularity of the breed grew and several more people began breeding Schipperkes including Gordon & Lorraine Rumpler (Monsoon), Mrs. Ann Walker (Annville), Mrs. L. Stacey (Kyana), Kath & Dick Denby (Ataahua), Bill & Jill Steven (Rexwood), Alan Samuels (Blaklea), Colin Williams (Embley), Dulcie Downes (Typhoon), Phil Smith (Wynrae), Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Reid (Kiwi-Glen), Ann Jardine (Alderan), Terry Maddox (Fabiola), Bryan & Hertha James (Kananaskis), Christine Thompson (Caprice), Mrs. L. Agnew (Tortosa), Jenny & Nancy Bullock (Fontra), Peggy Van Staveren (Kon-Tiki). Many of these kennels are not active anymore but around 1980 Sandra Macklin (Sanlyn) began showing and breeding Schipperkes, an interest that she has continued to foster to the present day.
In 1976, many of the breed fanciers held a meeting and decided to begin a newsletter; the quarterly publication “Schipperke News” was begun with Bernard Fears as its founding editor. It is still being produced and mailed to Schipperke owners and subscribers in New Zealand and overseas. In 2007 celebrations were held to mark 100 years since the first Schipperkes arrived in New Zealand. Coincidently that year also marked the 100th issue of Schipperke News.
Early in the 21st century an American bred Schipperke came to New Zealand when Am.Ch.Tumbleweed’s Red Letter Day, bred by June Moore in Texas, was exchanged by Sandra Macklin for a New Zealand bred dog. In partnership with Carol Reid (Lisbonlions), Sandra had imported frozen semen the previous year, collected from Am.Ch.Dotsu’s In Command of It All, but the initial inseminations were fruitless. However in late 2002 a litter conceived by AI produced Lisbonlions Texas Ranger. He went on to have a most successful show career.
In 2004 another Schipperke with American ancestry came to New Zealand when Eng.Ch.Kassalmak Quartz at Colhormeran, a grandson of Am.Ch. Foxnoir Braveheart at Ameriscot, was imported from England by Bernard and Vivienne Fears for their Exmoor Kennels. The sire of Quartz, Eng & Am.Ch.Kassalmak Dakota of Shellkirma, also spent some time in USA where he gained his champion title.
There is a strong sense of camaraderie among Schipperke folk, and each year a general meeting is held among the fanciers attending the National Show. By 1991 that annual gathering felt the time had arrived to seek recognition for a formal club and the “Schipperke Society” was formed. Initially Open shows were held under the sanction of the New Zealand Kennel Club but it was not long before they began holding an annual championship show.
In 2007 a special club championship show, to commemorate the centenary of Schipperke presence in New Zealand, was judged by Mrs. Brenda Banbury, one of England’s top echelon judges and a former Schipperke breeder, who awarded Best in Show to Eng.& NZ.Ch.Kassalmak Quartz at Colhormeran.
The controversial matter of tail docking has now reached New Zealand and soon legislation will prohibit the custom here too. Although the breed is not widely recognized among the general public of New Zealand, the dedication and enthusiasm of breeders today will ensure its continuity and wider acceptance in this country.