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View 8 More +A deliberate mix of Springer Spaniel and Poodle, the Springerdoodle is an increasingly popular addition to the designer dog universe. This hybrid breed combines the active, eager-to-please nature of the Springer Spaniel with the brains and low-shedding coat of the Poodle.
Breed Overview
Height:
16–24 inches
Weight:
30–60 pounds
Lifespan:
10–15 years
Colors:
Black, brown, white, cream, and combinations of these colors
Suitable for:
Great for families, children, senior
Temperament:
Friendly, intelligent, energetic, entertaining, good with other pets and kids
The result is an energetic, easily trained, exceptionally devoted dog who will fit into a wide variety of families and lifestyles. While it might be too much to say that Springerdoodles are the perfect family pet, they can make a strong claim. Read on to learn more about these affectionate dogs. Maybe you’ll decide the Springerdoodle is your perfect match!
Springerdoodle Characteristics
Springerdoodle Puppies
Springerdoodles are becoming more and more popular among designer dog fans. Springerdoodles are a hybrid or mixed breed, so you will want to choose your breeder carefully. It can be easier for puppy mills and other irresponsible breeders to produce and sell unhealthy hybrid puppies because of the lack of a breed standard and health recommendations.
Reputable Springerdoodle breeders will only breed Springer Spaniel and Poodle parents who are healthy and screened for inherited diseases. No two Springerdoodle litters will be the same because of their hybrid breeding, but starting with properly screened parents gives you the best shot at a healthy and happy puppy.
If you would rather try to adopt a Springerdoodle, you may be able to find one through a Doodle-specific rescue or your local animal shelter. Anytime you can rescue rather than purchase a dog, it is a great option since there are so many wonderful pets looking for good homes.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Springerdoodle
Because the Springerdoodle may take after just one or both of their parents, there will be some variation in their temperaments. In general, however, both Poodles and Springer Spaniels are intelligent, easily trained, and very sociable breeds. Knowing this, you can expect your Springerdoodle to display these traits as well.
Springerdoodles are usually very active, smart, and eager to please. Neither Springer Spaniels nor Poodles do well if they are left out of family activities so your Springerdoodle will want to spend as much time as possible with you. This is not a breed for people who want their dogs to live outdoors and keep to themselves.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
Springerdoodles generally make wonderful family pets. They are friendly with people of all ages and get along well with children. They are usually playful and joyful dogs who bring much love and entertainment to everyone they meet. Of course, you will want to make sure you supervise small children around any dog, even good-tempered ones like the Springerdoodle.
Proper socialization will help make sure your Springerdoodle becomes a well-mannered, enjoyable member of the family. Springerdoodles bond closely with their families and may develop behavior problems and anxiety if left alone too much.
Both Poodles and Springer Spaniels are active breeds, so you can count on your Springerdoodle needing plenty of mental and physical exercise as well. As long as your family can handle keeping up with these active dogs, they can be a great choice as a family dog.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
In general, Springerdoodles get along with and enjoy playing with other dogs. Taking the time to socialize your Springerdoodle with other dogs as early as possible will help this as well. If you are bringing a new Springerdoodle into the family with existing pets, be sure to introduce them properly and keep an eye on them as everyone gets to know each other.
Springerdoodles can do well with cats and smaller pets, again with proper socialization. Because Springer Spaniels were bred as hunting dogs, your Springerdoodle may inherit a bit of a prey drive. Be a little bit more cautious about the interactions of your Springerdoodle with cats and smaller pets. Your Springerdoodle may decide they are fun to chase which will likely not be appreciated!
Things to Know When Owning a Springerdoodle:
Like what you’ve learned so far about Springerdoodles? If you think this could be the breed for you, maybe you’d like some more information about taking care of a Springerdoodle. Here are some more details on what’s needed to keep your Springerdoodle happy and healthy.
Food & Diet Requirements
A Springerdoodle should do well when fed any good-quality, nutritionally balanced dog food. Feed your Springerdoodle the right type of food for their stage of life: puppy, adult, or senior diet. The choice to feed a commercially prepared dog food or a homemade diet is up to you. However, if you do decide to feed a homemade diet, be sure to ask your veterinarian for help in making sure you include the right mix of nutrients to keep your dog healthy.
The amount of food your Springerdoodle needs to eat will depend on their size, age, and activity level. Your veterinarian can help you figure out a good amount of food to start with based on these factors. Keep an eye on your dog’s weight to make sure it is staying in a healthy range and adjust the amount of food you feed as needed.
Exercise
Poodles and Springer Spaniels are both very active breeds and most Springerdoodles will be as well. A Springerdoodle requires daily physical and mental exercise, preferably in the company of their people. Playing with the kids in the yard, trips to the dog park, or a nice long walk or jog are great ways to keep your Springerdoodle active and burn off some energy.
Mental and social activity is also necessary for the Springerdoodle. They are usually smart dogs who will get bored and develop bad habits if they don’t have an outlet for their brainpower. Regular training sessions, learning tricks, or participating in dog sports like agility are some of the ways you can keep your Springerdoodle busy and entertained.
Training
Both Springer Spaniels and Poodles are known to be eager to please and easy to train—luckily the Springerdoodle is no exception. Positive, play-based training will be the most effective method to train your Springerdoodle. These dogs love their people and want to do as they are asked, making them easier to train than other, more independent breeds.
Ideally, training and socialization should start when the Springerdoodle is young. Good habits are picked up more quickly by young dogs. However, your older Springerdoodle will still need regular socialization and training to make sure they keep up their good manners.
As already discussed, Springerdoodles will not do well if they are left alone too often. Busy families may need to put more effort into making sure their Springerdoodles get plenty of attention. Lonely and bored Springerdoodles may fall into destructive habits like chewing or digging.
Grooming ✂️
The type of grooming your Springerdoodle needs will depend on which parent’s coat type they inherit. Springer Spaniels have a thick double coat that does shed regularly. Poodles are considered low or non-shedding dogs but keeping their coats in good condition is more intensive, requiring regular trips to the groomers.
If your Springerdoodle’s coat is more Springer-like, they will need regular brushing to keep them free of mats and to help control shedding. A more Poodle-like coat will take more effort to maintain. You may choose to keep your Springerdoodle’s coat trimmed short to make care easier. Otherwise, you will need to commit to a lot of brushing to make sure the coat doesn’t become matted.
Like all dogs, Springerdoodles’ nails should be kept trimmed short. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly and check and clean their ears as needed.
Health and Conditions
As a hybrid breed, Springerdoodles are generally considered to be healthier than their purebred parents. However, as we’ve already discussed, there’s no guarantee how dog genetics are going to play out and Springerdoodles can be prone to the same inherited diseases as Springer Spaniels and Poodles.
Responsible Springerdoodle breeders will be able to show that their breeding dogs are healthy and have been screened for inherited conditions. With healthy parents, your Springerdoodle puppy stands a much better chance of being healthy as well. The conditions discussed below are known to exist in Poodles and Springer Spaniels, meaning they could also be present in a Springerdoodle.
Serious Conditions:
Both Poodles and Springer Spaniels are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited bone conditions where the joints don’t fit properly together.
Epilepsy, an inherited seizure disorder, is also known to exist in both Springer Spaniels and Poodles.
Especially Poodles, but also Springer Spaniels, can suffer from bloat, a serious medical emergency. Bloat isn’t an inherited health condition but it can be life-threatening. All owners of dogs who may be prone to bloating should become familiar with the symptoms.
Springer Spaniels should be tested for a disorder called PFK deficiency before breeding.
Both Poodles and Springer Spaniels are prone to autoimmune diseases, some of which can be life-threatening.
Poodles can have an inherited blood disorder called von Willebrand’s disease.
Minor Conditions:
Poodles are prone to an inherited skin disorder called sebaceous adenitis.
Both Springer Spaniels and Poodles can have several inherited eye conditions including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which will eventually lead to vision loss.
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- PFK deficiency
- Autoimmune diseases
- von Willebrand’s disease
Male vs Female
Perhaps you’ve made the choice to welcome a Springerdoodle into your home, but now one last decision looms: should you get a male or female dog? What differences between male and female Springerdoodles could help you make up your mind?
Like many breeds, male Springerdoodles tend to be a little bit bigger than females. It is also been observed that male Springerdoodles are often slightly more independent than females. All Springerdoodles want to stay close to their people, but females may be a little more of your shadow than a males.
If you pick a female Springerdoodle, you will need to either have her spayed or be prepared to deal with a heat cycle every 6 months or so. Male Springerdoodles, like all male dogs, are usually a little rowdier than females. Lots of marking can also be an issue with male Springerdoodles, although neutering can help stem the flow.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Springerdoodle
1. They Aren’t Always Called Springerdoodles
The combination between a Poodle and a Springer Spaniel is also known by several other names. You may see them listed as Sproodle, Springerdoodle Retriever, Springerpoo, and Springerpoo Retriever.
2. They Come in a Mini Version
Technically, Springerdoodles result from crossing a Springer Spaniel with a Standard Poodle. However, you can also find Mini Springerdoodles, which result from a Springer Spaniel bred into a Miniature Poodle. These smaller Springerdoodles are similar to standard ones in all ways except their size!
3. No Two Springerdoodles Are Alike
Because they are a cross between two breeds of dog, the appearance, personality, and health of a Springerdoodle won’t be as consistent as a purebred dog. Purebred dogs have been bred for many generations to produce the same traits over and over. Springerdoodle puppies may have different colors and coat types all in the same litter!
This is why it’s extra important to make sure you are starting with healthy parents when picking your Springerdoodle puppy.
Final Thoughts
Designer dogs are all about bringing together the best qualities of two breeds in one dog-shaped package. Yes, it can be a bit of a shot in the dark sometimes but starting with two genuinely awesome breeds is almost always going to bring about happy results. Springerdoodles are one of those happy outcomes, judging by their growing popularity.
Making the leap into dog ownership can feel overwhelming sometimes but it’s made easier by choosing the right dog to start out with. If you know you’re able to provide the attention and exercise the Springerdoodle needs, they just might be the perfect first dog for you!
Featured Image Credit: DanBrierley, Shutterstock
2 Responses
We have a 3 month old springerdoodle named Molly. Energetic, smart, active. She loves to dig. She also loves to find and eat green grubs in our yard. Is this bad? I can't seem to stop her from relishing her feast, even though she gets high quality, homemade dogfood. Any suggestions.
Thanks,
Michele Jordan
Pataskala, Ohio