Sprollie

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Affectionate:

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Height: 46 - 51cm M | 46 - 51cm F

Weight: 20 - 27kg M | 20 - 27kg F

Life Expectancy: 8 - 12 Years

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Introduction

The Sprollie, although a cross between the English Springer Spaniel and the Border Collie, looks very much like the latter breed. This is no surprise as this dog has taken many of its parent breeds’ traits. However, Sprollie pups from the same litter may look different from each other and may also have varying proportions of their parents’ traits. Highly brainy, affectionate, and active, this dog is a wonderful pet for the family and first-time owners.

History

When the English Springer Spaniel and Border Collie were crossed in the UK decades ago, the Sprollie emerged. Although its exact origins remain a mystery, crossing Border Collies with Springer Spaniels has been done for a number of decades. They usually mated freely and the resulting offspring, Sprollies, were utilised as working dogs on farms.

The Sprollie has the characteristics of both its parent breeds, both of which have wonderful traits. As such, it is no surprise that this crossbreed later began to be purposely bred as pets. In recent years, the popularity of the Sprollie began to rise, and the demand for it has grown since then.

Currently, this hybrid canine is not yet recognised by The Kennel Club.

Appearance and Grooming

The Sprollie’s height ranges from 46-565 cm. Its weight usually ranges from 18-25 kg. As this dog is a crossbreed, its appearance from one pup to another. A single litter of Sprollie puppies, for example, can yield pups of varying colours, patterns, and traits. Despite this, there are characteristics that tend to be common for most, if not all, Sprollies.

Most of this breed has the same feathered, floppy ears that hang down the sides of their faces, close to the cheeks. They also usually have similar coats as their Spaniel parent. Their colours, even the tails, tend to be inherited from their Border Collie ancestor.

The Sprollie head is broad and proportionate to its body, with alert and intelligent eyes. Its nose is either black or brown, and its eyes can be light or dark brown. Its neck is muscular and strong, and its chest is deep. Its athletic build consists of well-developed hindquarters and thighs, muscular loins and straight front legs. Its tail has a slight curve and is never carried over its back. Its paws are oval and have deep pads and arched toes.

Its double coat, which protects it from harsh weather conditions, can be short and smooth or semi-long. Although the Sprollie’s coat colours cover a wide range of hues and patterns, the most common ones are the black and white pattern. The liver and white combination is also common.

The Sprollie’s coat is easy to maintain. A twice weekly brushing is enough to keep its fur in good condition. It sheds throughout the whole year, though.

Temperament and Intelligence

Considering both its parent breeds are lively and workaholics, the Sprollie is also likewise energetic and looking for something to do. It is also very smart and learns fast. As such, this canine is best suited for owners leading an active lifestyle in the great outdoors.

Very friendly, outgoing, and affectionate, the Sprollie temperament also varies among individuals. Its personality depends on how much from each parent it has inherited. However, the liveliness and friendliness frequently occur among such dogs.

Although loving towards its family, play time with children should be supervised as it can be boisterous. Positive reinforcement should be utilised in training this canine. When bored or not sufficiently exercised, the Sprollie can engage in a variety of undesirable behaviours.

First-time owners and families will enjoy the company of this wonderful canine. However, its first 2 years can be trying as it is when it is at its most energetic. Early socialisation will help make this dog a balanced pooch.

Nutrition and Feeding

As a highly active dog breed, a sprollie’s diet requires premium-quality proteins to meet his nutritional needs. These include chicken, lamb, fish, poultry, and eggs. Also include cereals and grains, carbohydrates, and vegetables, like brown rice, corn, wheat, and potatoes.

Provide your energetic sprollie with excellent-quality dog food. It should have a sufficient amount of nutritional value that caters to his activity levels, age, breed, and size. To narrow down the list of suitable high-quality dog food for your sprollie, check with the vet.

Do not opt for commercial dog food as it is often insufficient in calories and nutritional content. Others also include dangerous ingredients such as preservatives, which can negatively affect your sprollie’s health. Be sure to give him fresh water every day to keep him well-hydrated and avoid heatstroke.

Follow a set feeding schedule consistently, and provide the same food that your sprollie is used to in order to avoid gastric upset. However, if you need to shift to another type of high-quality food, do so gradually. This helps your pet adjust accordingly without complications. A sprollie puppy must be fed three to four times a day, whilst an adult sprollie can be fed twice a day.

For a sprollie puppy that is two to six months old, feed him 150–270 g of food daily, depending also on his size and activity level. For one that is seven to eight months old, feed him 150–250 g of food daily. On his tenth to eleventh month, feed him 135-195 g of food. When he turns twelve months and beyond, you can feed him adult food.

The adult sprollie weighing 18 kg should be fed about 215–280 g of food daily, also taking into consideration his activity level. For those 20 kg and above, the daily recommended portion ranges from 250 to 335 g.

Health and Exercise

The average Sprollie lifespan is 10 to 17 years. This breed is known to be affected by the following health issues:

Ear disorders
Hereditary eye disease and glaucoma
Hip dysplasia
Autoimmune diseases
Epilepsy

As a very active dog, the Sprollie should be exercised for at least an hour every day. It should be allowed to go off lead, provided it is in a securely fenced yard. Its high prey drive requires vigilance in letting it run about off lead and necessitates lead walking on other times. Being an intelligent breed, the Sprollie should be mentally stimulated as well. Boredom will lead it to engage in undesirable behaviours.

Cost of Ownership

If you are keen on buying a Sprollie, you need to prepare £250-£400 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. To ensure it stays healthy at whatever age, you will need to feed your dog high quality food and treats, which can set you back £30-£40 a month. You would also need to spend on dog accessories such as leads, collars, food bowls, crates, beds, and toys. The combined initial cost for these things is estimated at £200 depending on the brand.

As to healthcare, you should be prepared in case your dog suddenly falls ill or gets into an accident. You can offset some bills if you get a pet insurance, which can range from £23 for a time-limited cover up to £42 for a lifetime one. These prices vary depending on your dog’s health, age, the type of cover you choose, and whether it has pre-existing conditions.

Other outgoings to consider are veterinary expenses that may not be included in a pet insurance coverage such as vaccinations, routine checks, neutering or spaying, and annual boosters, which can have a combined cost of £900 annually. Overall, you will be budgeting £60-£90 a month for recurring expenses, depending on the type of insurance cover you choose for your dog.

Sprollie Breed Highlights

This canine is affectionate, friendly, and energetic – recommended for families and first-time owners.
It is very intelligent and active, requiring much exercise and mental stimulation.
Its high prey drive requires walks while on lead or off-lead play time in secure areas.
The Sprollie’s coat is easy to maintain.
This dog is not known to bark excessively. It can be left alone for a period of time if provided with things it can amuse itself with.