Sproodle Temperament:

What Are They Really Like?

One reason Sproodles have remained such an important part of our breeding program for 20 years is their temperament.

When we first considered crossing an English Springer Spaniel with a Poodle, temperament was every bit as important to us as size or coat. We had spent years raising Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers and loved their friendly, family-oriented personalities. We saw many of those same qualities in English Springer Spaniels, which is one of the reasons we decided to try the combination.

The result was a dog that quickly became a favorite with our families—and with us.

Friendly and Family-Oriented

Sproodles generally want to be part of whatever their family is doing.

They tend to be affectionate, social dogs that enjoy people and form strong relationships with their families. Whether they're joining you for an activity or simply settling nearby at the end of the day, Sproodles usually prefer being involved rather than watching life from a distance.

That people-oriented nature is one of the qualities we've consistently seen throughout our years of raising them.

Smart and Eager to Learn

Both English Springer Spaniels and Poodles are intelligent, trainable breeds, and we see those qualities in our Sproodles.

They tend to learn quickly and respond well to consistent, positive training. That intelligence can also mean they figure out things you didn't necessarily intend to teach them.

Early training, clear expectations, and consistency help turn all of that intelligence into good habits.

Playful, Active—and Able to Settle

Sproodles enjoy activity. Walks, games, exploring outside, and spending time with their families all provide useful physical and mental stimulation.

But more exercise isn't always the answer to an energetic puppy.

One of the most important things a young dog can learn is how to settle. Puppies need plenty of sleep and quiet time, and we encourage families to balance activity with opportunities for their puppy to rest and learn to entertain themselves.

A well-adjusted family dog should be able to enjoy activity with you and relax when the activity is over.

Sproodles and Children

Sproodles can make wonderful family companions, but a good relationship between a dog and children depends on both sides of that relationship.

Children should learn how to interact appropriately with a puppy, and puppies need guidance in learning appropriate behavior around children. Young puppies may jump, mouth, chase, and get overly excited—normal puppy behaviors that still need management and training.

Supervision, boundaries, and respectful handling help children and puppies learn to enjoy one another safely.

Sproodles and Other Dogs

Many of our Sproodles live happily in homes with other dogs.

Personality matters, however. Just as people don't automatically get along with everyone they meet, dogs have individual preferences and temperaments.

Thoughtful introductions and time for a new puppy and resident dog to adjust can make the transition much easier.

Does Size Affect Temperament?

Mini, Moyen, and Standard describe a Sproodle's expected adult size—not its personality.

A smaller Sproodle isn't automatically calmer or easier, and a larger Sproodle isn't necessarily more energetic. We encourage families to consider the individual puppy's temperament along with size when deciding which puppy may be the best fit.

After many years of matching puppies with families, we've found that personality and lifestyle fit often matter more than choosing a puppy based on size, color, or markings alone.

Nature and Nurture Both Matter

Genetics provide the foundation for temperament, which is why we consider it when selecting dogs for our breeding program.

But genetics aren't the whole story.

Socialization, training, routine, boundaries, exercise, rest, and the experiences a puppy has after leaving us all contribute to the adult dog that puppy becomes.

We can give a puppy a good beginning. What happens after that beginning matters, too.

Twenty Years of Living With Sproodles

Breed descriptions can tell you what a Sproodle is supposed to be like. Twenty years of raising them has shown us what they're actually like.

We've watched generations of our Sproodles grow up in families, and we've shared our own home with Sproodles for 16 years. While every dog has an individual personality, the qualities that first attracted us to this combination—affection, intelligence, trainability, and a strong connection to family—are the same qualities that have kept Sproodles in our breeding program for two decades.