Sproodle Coats & Shedding:

What to Expect

One of the characteristics that first attracted us to the Springer Spaniel–Poodle combination was the possibility of combining the beautiful colors and markings of the English Springer Spaniel with the low-shedding coat of the Poodle.

After 20 years of breeding Sproodles—and 16 years of living with them in our own home—we've had the opportunity to see how those coats develop and what they're really like to live with.

Do Sproodles Shed?

In our experience, Sproodles are remarkably low-shedding dogs.

I've had Sproodles living in my home for 16 years and have never found Sproodle hair on the floors or their beds. That's very different from my earlier years living with Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers.

Individual dogs can vary, however, and coat characteristics are influenced by genetics and the particular pairing that produced the puppy. For that reason, we describe our Sproodles based on what we've observed rather than promise that every Sproodle will have exactly the same coat.

What Does a Sproodle Coat Feel Like?

Sproodle coats can vary from soft waves to more pronounced curls. Even puppies within the same litter may have slightly different coats.

Our own Sproodles’ coats have ranged from silky waves to thick, loose curls, and some have dense cotton-like hair. Their shed levels are equal, as are their grooming requirements.

The coat a puppy has at eight weeks also isn't necessarily identical to the coat that dog will have as an adult. As Sproodles mature, their puppy coat changes and their adult coat develops.

Sproodle Colors and Markings

One of the things we love most about Sproodles is their variety.

English Springer Spaniels bring beautiful color and pattern possibilities to the pairing, and Sproodles can have dramatically different appearances—even within the same litter.

Our Sproodles have included black-and-white, brown-and-white, and apricot-and-white parti patterns. We often have puppies with additional tri-color markings, such as cute brown eyebrows. No two seem to look exactly alike.

Are Sproodles Hypoallergenic?

No dog can be guaranteed to suit every person with dog allergies.

We can share our own experience.

In 20 years of breeding Sproodles, only one person has reported an allergic reaction to one of our dogs. That individual had previously been unable to tolerate even a purebred Poodle.

We think that history is meaningful, but everyone's allergies are different. Someone with significant dog allergies is welcome to visit and spend time with some of our sproodles before deciding to adopt.

Does Generation Affect the Coat?

You may see Sproodles described as F1, F1b, or multigenerational. These terms describe how the dogs were bred and can help us understand which coat characteristics are more likely.

[VALERIE: I would like your input here before writing this section definitively. Tell me which generations you currently breed—F1, F1b, multigen, etc.—and what differences you've personally observed in their coats and shedding.]

Our goal isn't simply to produce the curliest coat possible. We consider the entire dog—including health, temperament, structure, size, and coat—when planning a breeding.

Low-Shedding Doesn't Mean Low-Maintenance

This is an important distinction.

The very coat that makes a Sproodle appealing to families who don't want dog hair throughout the house also requires regular care.

Loose hair can remain caught within a Sproodle's coat rather than falling onto the floor. Without regular brushing and grooming, that hair can contribute to tangles and mats.

Brush Sproodles thoroughly at home and professionally groom them on a regular schedule. Pay particular attention to areas that mat easily, including behind the ears, under the collar, the legs, and areas where the coat experiences friction.

A Sproodle that swims or gets thoroughly wet should also be properly dried and brushed to help prevent matting.

Does Generation Affect a Sproodle's Coat?

We have raised both F1 and multigenerational Sproodles. A multigenerational Sproodle still comes from the same two breeds—English Springer Spaniel and Poodle—but isn't necessarily a 50/50 genetic mix of the two.

Having also raised Goldendoodles for many years, we've seen how multigenerational breeding can affect coat texture in that cross. That experience has made us pay particularly close attention to coat changes from one generation to the next.

Interestingly, we haven't seen the same differences in our Sproodles. In our breeding program, we've found no meaningful change in coat quality, shedding, temperament or health between our F1 and multigenerational Sproodles.

That's one reason we don't believe a generation label tells the whole story. Knowing the dogs behind a puppy—their coats, health, temperament and the traits we've seen through previous generations—is often much more useful than relying on "F1" or "multigen" alone.