“Spoodle”

Cocker Spaniel X Miniature Poodle

History
Spoodle’s were first known in the 1950s. They then became very popular as designer dogs in the 1960s. The two things that made this breed so popular was the fact that they shed very little to no fur and don’t have a strong odour. In 1999, The Cockapoo (Spoodle) Club of America formed to formally acknowledge this beautiful dog breed and are in the process of having this crossbreed recognised as a breed in it’s own right.

Temperament
The Spoodle is a lively and affectionate family dog. They are very sociable and often have outgoing personalities. They can adapt to living in a small home or apartment as long as they receive adequate daily exercise. Spoodles can be good guard dogs as they may bark when visitors arrive, however are not aggressive. Their intelligence and eagerness to please can make them easy to train.

Upkeep
Spoodles usually do not shed and are often tolerated by allergic people. Their coats do take a great deal of care though, generally requiring professional grooming, as well as regular combing and brushing at home. The spoodle should be taken to a groomer about every six weeks for a clip of your choice. The spoodle’s ears need frequent cleaning or they may become infected and, daily teeth brushing is recommended or tartar will build up rapidly and lead to gingivitis. The eyes should be cleaned daily to prevent a build-up eye discharge and tear staining. Daily walks and regular trips to the dog park will keep help keep a spoodle’s energy levels under control.

What should I consider when purchasing a cross-breed?

It is important to remember that a crossbreed is not as predictable as a purebred dog. You don’t know which characteristics it will inherit from each of its parents. In the case of the Spoodle, this may mean that you get a puppy with a fleece, hair or wool coat or with a curly or a straight coat, depending on what they inherit from the Poodle and the Spaniel. This also applies to the personality traits of the two breeds.

There have been an increasing number of health concerns about crossbreeds, not least because too many irresponsible breeders are cashing in on the crossbreed craze and selling the myth that crossbreeds are automatically healthier, so they don’t need to health test their dogs. This is not true. Whilst crossbreeds have a wider gene pool than pedigree dogs, any dog can become ill and it is important that you buy from a responsible breeder. If you buy a crossbreed you should check the health test results for both of the parents in the same way as you should for a pedigree dog.

You may also like…

• Spanish Water Dog

• Tibetan Terrier

• Irish Spaniel

Breed information sourced from: https://www.purina.com.au/en/dogs/breeds/spoodle#.X5z6ZC97HVo
Images sourced from Google Images.
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