Sprollie Dog Breed

Yes, the Sprollie can make a great family pet – but only in a home with children who are old enough to keep up with them! These dogs love their long walks and need plenty of entertainment and play sessions. For younger children, this could be a bit much!

The Collie in this breed makes them slightly prone to herding behaviour, like when they see groups of children playing together. This can lead to the occasional bum or ankle nip.

Collies also suffering from sound sensitivity. So, they may find a crying baby or excitable toddler stressful to live with.

A Sprollie would suit an active family who enjoy lengthy walks in the countryside. Bonus points if you’re keen to get involved in various different dog sports!

Sprollies can be very affectionate but only if their physical and mental needs are met.

We can’t overstate the busy nature of this breed. The last word you would use to describe this breed is lazy! A Sprollie is a great companion for someone who leads an outdoor, active lifestyle. And if they get the exercise they need, they’ll be happy to snuggle down on the sofa next to you.

The Sprollie’s parent breeds are dogs who work alongside their main carer. So they wouldn’t get on well in a home where they’ll be left alone for long periods of time.

Yes – very! Both parent breeds love to be kept busy and play is an easy way to fulfil this need – and it helps to keep them happy.

The Collie likes to chase and the Spaniel likes to retrieve, so playing fetch is the perfect game to play with your Sprollie. Both breeds also excel at using their nose, so scent games are another great option!

Without enough time dedicated to regular play, your Sprollie may develop attention-seeking behaviours. These can include barking, stealing items, or become destructive.   

Whilst not exactly a quiet dog, the Sprollie isn’t an excessive barker either.

Like a lot of dogs, they’ll ‘speak up’ if someone knocks on your door, or if a stranger enters your home.

You can expect this breed to bark more if their needs aren’t being met. They may get noisy for attention or take their guard dog barking to the next level. If they’re not given something to do which keeps them busy, they’ll find their own entertainment, which can make barking inevitable!  

All dogs need the correct amount of physical and mental exercise to reduce the chances of behavioural issues. This must be combined with kind, fair, and effective reward-based training.  Without this input from their human, a dog can develop issues that make living with them challenging to say the least! 

The Sprollie is no exception. Without the right support, these incredibly bright and active dogs can develop the following unwanted behaviours:  

• Excessive barking due to boredom and frustration.
• Inappropriate nipping owing to their Collie genes.
• Stealing and chewing items.
• Guarding items they have stolen.
• Obsessive behaviours such as chasing shadows and spinning. 

The good news? You can avoid or reduce these issues by meeting their needs.   

Sprollies suit a medium-sized home with a fully enclosed garden. They also need daily access to open green spaces for exercise.

This breed would fit nicely into a family with slightly older children who can get involved in long walks and toy play. They’re especially great if you want to do sports like scentwork, agility, hoopers and obedience!

If socialised the right way, they can live with dogs and other pets. But extra care should be taken with pet birds or rodents in particular because of the parent Spaniel breed which has a hunting ancestry.

One of the most important things that a Sprollie needs from their family is time. They also need a more-than-average amount of exercise, as well as plenty of playtime and companionship.

As a busy, sociable breed, they wouldn’t get on well in a home where they’re left alone for long periods of time.

The answer is quite a bit! Spaniels are bred to work the countryside, doing things like flushing (making birds leave their cover) and retrieving game for hours on end. Border Collies are bred to herd sheep across the pastures and have great stamina. So, it’s no surprise the Sprollie has a high level of energy!

These dogs need to live with a family who love the outdoors. And they must be prepared to exercise them in all weathers (at least two hours daily). 

Sprollies love to run, chase sniffs, get dirty, retrieve toys and swim. As both the parent breeds are working dogs, it’s important for the Sprollie to be challenged mentally. Scent games, hide and seek games, puzzle feeders, activity toys, and trick training will ensure that your Sprollie doesn’t get bored or frustrated.

Getting a Sprollie involves a big time commitment to meet their physical and mental needs. So, take a moment to think through this decision before taking the plunge.  

Yes! Sprollies are super smart and motivated by both toys and food.

All puppies need appropriate socialisation to get comfortable with the sights and sounds of everyday life. They also need habituation training so they know what to ignore.

Make the most of their puppyhood. During this stage, their brains are like sponges and that makes training easier! 

Adolescence is challenging for all dogs, but hang in there – your hard work will be rewarded once they reach maturity.

Kind, fair, and effective training with positive reinforcement are key to a healthy and trusting relationship with your four-legged friend.

Good training will help avoid issues such as:  

• an unreliable recall
• pulling on lead
• excessive barking
• Herding/nipping people and animals
• and stealing items 

Sprollies are moderate shedders. They have double coats which keep them warm whilst working in cold weather.

You’ll need a dog rake to remove the dead hairs in their undercoat. Their topcoat calls for slicker brush to maintain its sleek appearance. Don’t forget about the feathering on their ears and legs, which needs a comb to keep them knot free.

Regular grooming sessions are a great opportunity to check their body for any lumps, cuts, or unwanted parasites. Keeping on top of knots, especially around the armpits and ears, ensures that your dog is not in pain. 

Being a cross between two pedigree breeds means you need to consider conditions that both the parents can be affected by.

For the Springer Spaniel this includes: 

• Hip dysplasia (malformed hip joints)
• Elbow dysplasia (malformed elbow joints)
• Epilepsy
• Progressive retinal atrophy (eye problem) 

For Border Collies: 

• Hip Dysplasia (malformed hip joints)
• Eye cataracts
• Epilepsy
• Hypothyroidism

With good care, regular vet visits, and a healthy lifestyle, many of these risks can be minimised – helping your Sprollie live a long and happy life.