Springerdoodle Grooming

Springerdoodles (or Sproodles) combine the English Springer Spaniel's medium-length, wavy coat with the Poodle's medium to long, curly one--and the result is a Sproodle's medium to long, wavy to curly coat that requires a good bit of care. See below for further information on maintaining the Springerdoodle coat.

Springerdoodles (also called Sproodles) have medium- to long-haired, wavy to curly coats that require a good bit of care; Sproodle grooming, therefore, is a fairly time-consuming process. Though these dogs' coats don't shed much, they are prone to tangles and mats, and will need frequent brushing (4-5 times per week). They'll require baths every six weeks or so, and the coats will need a trim every 2-3 months (and they'll need additional "sanitary" trims around their eyes and anus once in a while).

To brush a Sproodle: first wet the coat with mist from a spray bottle (and you can mix in some canine conditioner or de-tangler, available at pet stores, if desired). Use a slicker brush to go over the coat in typical line-brushing fashion; it'll also be good to have a 2-in-1 comb handy to work through tangles and mats. If you encounter one, first separate the mat with your fingers, then finish working it out with the comb. If you're following the brushing with a bath, use a bathtub or an outdoor kiddie pool and a garden hose. Use canine shampoo (and conditioner, if you choose), as human shampoo can irritate the dog's skin. Lather and rinse well, towel- or blow-dry, then give the coat another quick brush-through to make it look neat and clean.

Springerdoodles will usually need a haircut every 8-12 weeks. A Puppy Cut, in which the coat is trimmed to 1-2 inches all over, is a popular, "low-maintenance" choice for these dogs; some owners learn to give the cuts themselves, while others rely on a professional groomer. Either way, it's a good idea to visit a groomer at least once, as he or she can show you how to do the cut yourself and provide Sproodle grooming tips in general.

It's also recommended that you use scissors to trim around the dog's eyes occasionally to keep the hair from irritating them; once or month or so, you should also trim the hair surrounding its anus to keep it from getting dirty when the dog defecates.