Spoodle is a wonderful mixture of two well-tempered breeds, i,e., Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. Having Teddy Bear looks and a highly-adorable face, it is one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia.
Outside Australia, this dog is popular as a Cockapoo, Cockapoodle, or Cockerpoo. So, if you were searching for one of these names and ended up here, you are in the right place.
Spoodle is an adorable dog with beautiful forever puppy eyes and a great sense of humour and fun. The best thing about this beauty is that it knows it’s beautiful and it would never hesitate to pose for cameras, just like its Poodle parent. Check out Spoodle puppies for sale.
If you have planned to get a Spoodle puppy and looking for a comprehensive breed guide, keep reading this article. This guide contains everything about the Spoodle dog breed such as its temperament, health-related issues, pros and cons, and much more.
So, let’s start with the history of Spoodle.
Read Australian Cobberdog Facts & Guide
Table of Contents
History of Spoodle
As mentioned above, Spoodle is not a purebred dog but a cross between one of the most intelligent dogs, the Poodle, and the graceful Cocker Spaniel. Various stories have been circulating about the Spoodle’s origin as no one exactly knows when this dog breed came into existence. But according to a most admissible story, it was crossbred in the US around 1950 by a group of breeders. Later the breed got famous as Cockapoo in the 1960s.
Spoodle has not been recognized by Dogs Australia, the Australian National Kennel Council, because it is a hybrid dog and Dogs Australia doesn’t recognize hybrid breeds. Other than Dogs Australia, the American, British, and Canadian kennel clubs have also not recognised this dog yet.
Common Features
Spoodle is one of the cutest and furriest dogs that comes with overloaded intelligence and adorable looks. Let’s explore more about this champion dog below.
- Variety in coats – They may have curly, wavy or straight coats that could be in a variety of colours from white to brindle and cream to black.
- Various colours and patterns – The Spoodles could be one-coloured, parti-coloured and multi-coloured having unique markings on them.
- Different sizes – From ultra-small to medium, they come in four different sizes known as teacup toy, toy, miniature, and maxi.
- Beautiful eyes and ears – They usually have brown adorable eyes and cute floppy ears that make them super-cute dogs.
- Compact bodies – Their sturdy square-shaped bodies are accompanied by deep wide chests, swishy tails, tiny legs and handsome moustaches on their face.
What’s good about them & what’s bad about them?
Every breed comes with some positive and negative traits. Negative traits are usually the compatibility issues of a specific breed with an owner and it has nothing to do with the dog’s personality.
Likewise, Spoodles do also have some positive and negative traits or pros and cons.
Pros of having a Spoodle
Low to non-shedding coats
Spoodles are an excellent choice for those with extreme allergies as they have low to non-shedding coats, thanks to their parent breeds. The Poodle has a curlier coat which is known for being hypoallergenic while the Cocker Spaniel sheds moderately throughout the year.
So, expect less dog hair indoors on your sofa, carpet and your clothes. All you need to do is brush your dog once a day to prevent tangling and matting, and you are good to go.
Friendliness
Are you looking for a dog that accepts everyone as a friend? Go get a Spoodle because this adorable pooch is known for its welcoming behaviour towards strangers, kids, elders and even other pets. Beware they are so sweet-natured that they may end up being friends with even the predators, so they are not suitable as guard dogs.
Excellent companions
As a first-time owner, you won’t find a companion better than a Spoodle. They are intelligent, easy to train and easy to care for. They’ll be ready to accompany you at any time and they are highly responsive.
Cons of having a Spoodle
Separation Anxiety
Spoodles are prone to separation anxiety and can develop this condition if not socialized at an early age. An introduction to various sounds, scenarios and different people during their early months would really help them become friendly dogs.
They also need to be trained to spend their time in crates and stay alone for certain periods or they may develop destructive behaviour.
High-Energy Dogs
You need to spend some time daily walking and exercising them. Although they are small in size and adapt well in smaller spaces too, you need to fulfil their daily activity needs. If you can’t spare up to an hour for your dog, consider getting a low-energy dog.
Temperament and behaviour
When it comes to temperament and behaviour, Spoodles are champion dogs because they love to stay around people. They are easy to train and won’t be giving you a tough time during the training sessions. Spoodles are so affectionate that they make a strong bond with their owners and sometimes, they are called Velcro dogs. They are very cuddly, playful, and entertainers.
Spoodles are wonderful posers and their bright smiles would blow you out. In short, they are a combination of adorable looks, intelligence, and smartness.
Every dog needs to be trained and socialized from an early age, and the same goes for Spoodles. With early socialization, they’d become obedient and loyal and you’d barely witness them howling or barking. But one thing is for sure, your pup would be running/playing all day. They are very energetic and love to play ball games.
A Spoodle could be an ideal match for first-time owners who are looking for a cuddly dog that isn’t hard to handle. But be noted that they could develop separation anxiety and become destructive due to the fact that they do not like to be separated from their owners even for a millisecond. This behaviour can be avoided through early training though. But if your pup develops such a problem, you need not to leave them alone for a long time. You may also take the help of an expert behaviourist to tackle this issue.
You may like reading about DogWatch vs Invisible Fence
Living with a Spoodle
Due to its small size, a Spoodle can adapt to all types of houses whether it’s a small condo or a bigger home with a yard. Although it loves being outdoors during different playing activities, it has the ability to amuse indoors.
Spoodles are friendly with their humans, as well as, strangers and other pet animals. Instead of chasing your neighbour’s cat, they’d prefer to be friends with them.
If you have small children, try not to leave them unsupervised with these little furry creatures because they could easily be injured due to their small size.
Everyone loves a dog that does not excessively bark, howl, or show destructive behaviour, and with early-age training, all of these issues can be prevented.
Care & Grooming
Like all other dog breeds, Spoodle also needs to be taken care of and groomed regularly to stay healthy and happy and maintain its looks.
They have a low-shedding coat that needs to be brushed regularly to prevent tangling and matting. A visit to a professional groomer for a haircut is also necessary for their handsome being.
Being a responsible dog parent, you need to take care of your fur baby on a regular basis. The common routine as a Spoodle parent would be brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent oral health problems. Along with that, you need to bathe them once every 2-3 months or occasionally if you feel their coat is not clean. Also, keep an eye on their ears and make sure there is no wax or foreign objects in them. Don’t forget to clip their nails or they may injure themselves or anyone around them.
Dietary Needs of a Spoodle
Different breeders feed different brands of food to their Spoodle puppies and it’s better to ask your breeder or vet. In general, you are recommended to feed them dog food that is specially designed for small breeds. Some dog parents also give them protein-rich food such as salmon, chicken, turkey or grains but as puppies may have sensitive stomachs, you need to take care of them.
Overfeeding or underfeeding could turn out in health-related issues, so a proper feeding schedule from your vet would be a great idea.
Health-related concerns
Spoodles could inherit genetic diseases from one of their parents (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle), especially, if the parents are not DNA-tested before they are bred.
In general, they could have slipped stifles, usually known as Luxating Patella or Slipped Kneecap. It may lead to lifelong crippling.
They have floppy ears that can trap moisture and dirt and can lead to ear infections. To avoid such problems, check their ears regularly and keep them clean.
They may also develop liver-related diseases so it’s better to take your pup to the vet every six months for regular checkups.
How much does a Spoodle Puppy cost?
You should expect to pay between $2500 to $6000 or maybe more for a Spoodle puppy depending on various factors such as the colour of the puppy, the breeder’s reputation, location, gender and some other factors.
If someone is offering a puppy for a relatively low price, make sure it’s an ethical breeder and not a puppy farm. Do your homework before choosing a breeder and ask the necessary questions from the breeder to make sure you are not being trapped by an unethical breeder. Getting a puppy from an unethical breeder is not recommended at all and such puppies are more likely to develop genetic issues.
Puppy Maintenance Cost:
It may depend on different scenarios but as a first-time owner, expect to spend around $1000 in the first year as you need to spend on dog supplies, designated puppy food, vaccinations, vet visits, and several other necessities for your puppy. In the following years, you may need to spend around $750 but it totally depends on you.
Final Words
Every dog makes its owners happy but a dog like Spoodle that is super-entertaining and loving is just out of this world. So, if you haven’t made any decision on our next puppy yet, now is the best time. Get a Spoodle puppy and thank us later.
Make sure to raise your puppy most lovingly and don’t neglect the fact that your puppy needs to be trained, socialised and raised in a way you raise your human child.
Recommended read – Facts about Australian Collie
Image credit: Bespoke Spoodles
