Springerdoodle 101: Intro to the Springer Spaniel-Poodle Mix

Sporty and sassy, the Springerdoodle has such a lot to offer the right kind of owner or family. Could that be you? Well, if you are looking for a pet that is as loving as they are active, then chances are it just might be. These darling dogs typically represent the very best of both parent breeds bringing smarts, happiness, fun, and a touch of mischief everywhere they go.

If you are looking to adopt a Doodle, are in the process of narrowing down the search, and have ended up on this page, chances are you know a little bit about Springerdoodles already. If not, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here we will run through everything you need to know about these irresistible pups to help you decide if they are, in fact, the best Doodles for you. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

• What Exactly is a Springerdoodle?
• 3 Interesting Facts About Springer Spaniel – Poodle Mixes
• Springerdoodle Physical Appearance
• Springerdoodle Pictures (Puppy & Adult)
• Springerdoodle Size
• Springerdoodle Personality & Temperament
• Springerdoodle Variations & Generations
• Springerdoodle Health
• Springerdoodle Exercise & Training
• Springerdoodle Coat & Grooming
• Where Can You Get Springerdoodle Puppies?
• Springerdoodle Frequently Asked Questions
• Springerdoodle Final Thoughts

What Exactly is a Springerdoodle?

The Springerdoodle is a cross between the Springer Spaniel and the Poodle. Also known as Springerpoos or Sproodles, these dogs are an engaging combination of the energetic, sociable Springer Spaniel and the smart, low-shedding Poodle.

Poodles were first seen in Germany, where they are known as Pudelhund, which means to splash about in water. Bred to be working dogs, retrieving hunted waterfowl, Poodles used to only come in a larger size. These days, however, Miniature and Toy versions of these canines are popular companion dogs. Their amazing ability to pick up new tricks and their love of showing them off makes these pups excellent fun to have around.

Spaniels are thought to have originated in Spain. Also used as hunter companions, they were used to flush out game to be shot. In the past, Springer Spaniels weren’t distinguished from other varieties. Instead, smaller dogs were separated from larger ones in the litter and given different roles. Nowadays, though, there are many kinds, with English Springer Spaniels being the ones used most often for creating Springerdoodles.

3 Interesting Facts About Springer Spaniel – Poodle Mixes

1. With both involved breeds being very much water dogs, there is no doubt that Springerdoodles adore spending time this way too. However, both dogs also have those floppy ears that can easily trap water, which can lead to infection. So you need to pay particular care to this part of your dog’s grooming routine. 
2. Springerdoodles make truly excellent candidates for canine sports – particularly the agility variety. Not only are they likely to be the best in show at them, but this kind of work is also something they tend to adore doing. It keeps them both physically and mentally active. 
3. Poodles and Springer Spaniels have wildly different coats. This means that even though Springerdoodles have been bred to have the Poodle hypoallergenic variety, it’s tricky to predict what will happen here. What we do know is these dogs all tend to look absolutely unique, even pups from the same litter. 

Springerdoodle Physical Appearance

Springerdoodles sport fluffy and thick Doodle coats and those signature floppy ears. They come in colors like black, brown, white, cream, and various pattern combinations. Still, each Springerdoodle puppy is unique and it all boils down to which genes they inherit from each side of their lineage. 

Having said that, Springerdoodles might well have been around as long as some other Doodle types. However, for whatever reason, they don’t seem to have become as established as, say, the mightily similar Cockapoos. What this means is that these dogs are yet to become as standardized. With most being first-generation pups (see further down), each one can look quite different from the rest. 

While Springer-Ds do tend to inherit that distinctive Doodle long-limbed teddy-bear appearance, it wouldn’t be unheard of for them to have the slightly bulkier Spaniel features over the more delicate Poodle ones. They can also be more compact and muscular with longer, more pendulous ears. In terms of colors, black, brown, white, cream, and various pattern combinations of these would be the norm.

Another stick in the spoke of predicting what these dogs might look like is the variations seen within the Springer Spaniel breed itself. While many of these pups were kept in the hunting game, and so retained the robust build that made them so perfect for this, Spaniels that became companions dogs went on to develop longer coats and more delicate frames and features.

Springerdoodle Pictures (Puppy & Adult)

Springerdoodle Size

Springerdoodles are medium-sized dogs that come in two sizes. The Standard Springerdoodle weighs around 35 to 60 pounds with a height of 19 to 25 inches. The Mini Springerdoodle is approximately 15 to 30 pounds and 12 to 18 inches to the shoulder. 

Most commonly, Springerdoodles fall into the medium-sized dog category, just like the purebred Springer Spaniel and Poodle. However, you can also find more miniature versions available where the Springer has been combined with a smaller Poodle variety. These are likely to be far less common as making dogs littler can be a tricky business for breeders. Nonetheless, if you’re lucky enough, you will eventually come across one.  

Another thing to note is that male Springerdoodles might be slightly larger than females, especially when it comes to Standard Springerdoodles. Still, the difference here isn’t usually all that much. 

If you want to know what size you might expect your puppy to get to, take a look at our Spingerdoodle Size Guide. Here you can also find details on growth rates and patterns. 

Springerdoodle Personality & Temperament

Sweet-natured, affectionate, and highly intelligent dogs, Springerdoodles certainly live up to that Doodle reputation. Likewise, they tend to be very sociable dogs, not just with adults and children, but with other dogs too. That’s why they do best in the type of environment where they will never be on their own. If they are left alone for long periods, they could suffer from separation anxiety which may lead to unwanted behaviors. 

As we touched on above, Springerdoodles are yet to become as popular as their Cockapoo cousins. Perhaps one of the reasons is that they have developed a reputation as being overly exuberant hounds. Whether this is fairly deserved is yet to be seen. Sure – working dogs on the whole are more energetic, as they were bred to keep going and going, but most breeding animals these days come from generations of companion ones that just naturally tend to be more mellow. 

That being said, if you’re looking to bring a Springerdoodle into your home, you do need to be aware that they are happy, boisterous guys. For this reason, they are better suited to larger homes with more active families. They might not be the best around small and timid children who they could scare with their jumping about. A little training and a fair bit of early socialization will really help with keeping them calm around new people and situations.

Springerdoodle Variations & Generations

With Doodle breeding many possible options result. This comes in part because of the different sizes of Poodle (as covered above), but also because there are many breeding possibilities. It might be the case that your Springerdoodle is derived from two pedigree pups, in which case they would be a first-generation Springerdoodle. However, their parents could equally as likely be Spingerdoodles themselves. Here are the various generations:

	1st Parent	2nd Parent	% English Springer Spaniel*	% Poodle*
F1 Springerdoodle (first-generation)	English Springer Spaniel	Poodle	50%	50%
F1B Springerdoodle (first-generation backcross)	F1 Springerdoodle	Poodle	25%	75%
F1BB Springerdoodle (first-generation backcross backcross)	F1B Springerdoodle	Poodle	12.5%	87.5%
F2 Springerdoodle (second-generation)	F1 Springerdoodle	F1 Springerdoodle	50%	50%
F2B Springerdoodle (second-generation backcross)	F1 Springerdoodle	F1B Springerdoodle	37.5%	62.5%
F2B Springerdoodle (alternate cross)	F2 Springerdoodle	Poodle	25%	75%
F3 / Multigen Springerdoodle	F1B Springerdoodle or higher	F1B Springerdoodle or higher	Varies	Varies

While first-generation dogs are the most common here, some breeders may opt for other variations simply because breeding lines of multi-gen dogs using Springerdoodle parents crossed back to Poodles makes it easier to create puppies with more predictable coats, colors, and other traits. This is also the case when breeding for smaller-sized dogs. Although usually, the best option here would be to go for a Cockapoo instead.

Springerdoodle Health

Springerdoodles are generally healthy dogs, but they can be at risk of health conditions like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia, as well as Addison’s Disease and thyroid issues. Still, Springerdoodles are thought to be healthier than their purebred parents.  

Benefiting from something known as hybrid vigor (better health through a wider variety of genes), Springerdoodles typically live somewhere between 12 and 15 years. Exactly where they sit on this line will be, in part, determined by their size and gender. Smaller dogs tend to outlive their larger cousins meaning your Mini SpringerD will likely be on the higher end of that approximation, whereas you might expect your Standard SpringerD to be on the lower end. Females also usually outlast males – as is the case with all species. 

Obviously, care will factor in quite a lot here. You will want to ensure you are feeding your pup the very best kinds of kibble to keep them in tip-top condition, and that you are giving them plenty of exercise too. Regular vet visits are a must as the pros will know what health conditions to look out for with these particular dogs. These can include progressive retinal atrophy, Addison’s Disease and thyroid issues, as well as hip dysplasia. This latter problem mainly affects medium-to-large dogs, especially as they start to get on in years. 

Springerdoodle Exercise & Training

Both the Spingerdoodle’s parents are high-energy dogs, so you can go right ahead and assume that your Springerdoodle will be too. They need plenty of physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy. About 60-90 minutes of exercise should be a good goal for these Doods. 

With two water-loving breeds in the mix, chances are your puppy will love nothing more than tramping through every puddle. If you can spend time in a place where they can swim and enjoy the water, the more the better. 

It’s always great to have options for helping your pup burn off their excess energy at home too. A nice big yard will serve these dogs very well, especially if you and your family have plenty of time to chuck about a ball for them. Otherwise, having some toys around that, your SpingerD can use to entertain themselves is a good idea. The Kong Classic Dog Toy is a particular favorite among Doodle owners – especially those with super high energy hounds. 

As eager-to-please as they are smart, Springerdoodles are an absolute joy to train in the majority of cases as long as you employ a firm and consistent training method such as positive reinforcement. However, they can also be a little on the stubborn side if they are not entirely down with what you are asking them to do. If you have plenty of dog experience, this shouldn’t be too difficult to deal with. If not, there are some great in-person and online schools where you can learn the best approach. We particularly like Baxter and Bella’s Online Puppy School.

Springerdoodle Coat & Grooming

Springerdoodles need to be groomed regularly to keep their beautiful coats free from mats. Regular brushing, haircuts, and bathing, it’s all part of their grooming routine.

The amount of time you are going to need to put aside for grooming your pet will differ depending on what type of coat they end up with. The Poodle and the Springer Spaniel have massively different hair types. Your pup could easily inherit either, no matter what the breeder might try and tell you. 

The “hypoallergenic” Poodle coat is single-layered, low shed, and curly. While this may seem the best coat of the canine world, it actually takes far more work than you would think. While you can avoid having a thick hair coating on all your clothes and furniture, the truth is you will need to brush your Poodle-coated pup daily to ensure that beautiful coat of theirs doesn’t become painfully matted. 

The Spaniel coat, on the other hand, is double-layered, often wavy with feathering around the ears, legs, and tail. These dogs shed moderately throughout the year, and they also need quite frequent grooming to prevent knots and tangles. However, you likely won’t need to be on this every single day. Two-to-three times a week will probably be enough to keep hair out of your house, with regular trims thrown in on top of that. 

Genetics being what they are, it might be the case that your Springerdoodle ends up with some crazy combination of the two-parent pup coats. This could be curly, wavy, straight, long, short, single-layered, or double-layered – basically, anything goes. The best combination in terms of grooming would be wavy, short, and single-layered. If your dog ends up with this coat, you’ve hit the winning ticket and will likely only need to brush them just once a week.

Many Doodle parents opt to take their pooch to the groomers on a regular basis to stay on top of their coat care. However, if you prefer to take care of things at home, then our handy grooming articles are a great source of information on everything from the right brushes for your pet’s coat to how to trim their hair using scissors and clippers. 

Where Can You Get Springerdoodle Puppies?

While Doodle breeders are on the rise, most of them tend to specialize in the more common Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, etc. This might make finding a Springerdoodle a little more challenging. A good place to start is our breeder directory. Here we list responsible breeders in different areas based on the research we’ve done into the reviews and recommendations of the facilities. 

If you branch out from these, just make sure you know what you’re looking for in a decent breeder. It pays to really do your research here. There are plenty of scammers around who will happily take your money and puppy mill facilities that breed poor-quality animals. These are the red flags to watch out for regarding both of these. Basically, though, if you are being offered a puppy for less than $800, then run screaming away from that place.

On the other side of things, some places may ask for up to $1,500 for one of their Springerdoodle puppies, and it could very well be worth paying this amount. Breeding quality puppies is not an easy business, and it’s definitely not cheap either. A place asking for more money has likely put their pets through the kind of vigorous genetic testing needed to ensure that they won’t pass on any nasty health conditions to their offspring.

Springerdoodle Frequently Asked Questions

Springerdoodle Final Thoughts

Springerdoodles are not among the more well-known of the Doodles. However, they deserve plenty of recognition because of the delightful dogs they are. If you like the sound of a companion pup to accompany you on long walks, days in the park, and more than this could be the right choice for you.

It’s important to know, though, that SpringerDs do need plenty of love, care, and attention. They are sociable dogs by nature and want to always be surrounded by family. If you think you can offer that kind of environment, then you will get so much out of owning a Springerdoodle that you won’t be able to believe that you ever got by without one.