Sprocker Spaniel- Facts, Temperament, Life Expectancy

A. Sprocker Spaniels Origin and History

1. The Origins of the Sprocker Spaniel

There are numerous theories about the origin and development of the Sprocker Spaniel breed, out of which the most accepted theory is the one about the Scottish ancestry of the breed. The majority of canine experts have hypothesized that Sprocker Spaniels have been developed by gamekeepers in the Scottish Highlands since the 1600s who kept Springer and Cocker Spaniels and wanted a versatile breed that was proficient at pointing, hunting, and retrieving birds and smaller animals.

Additionally, they wanted a breed that was comfortable on land and in water and thus developed Sprockers to get the best of both breeds in one dog.

Other theories state that Sprockers were created accidentally in the Scottish estates that employed large numbers of working dogs like Springers and Cocker Spaniels. The Sprockers were created out of these working dogs, and after seeing their sturdiness, further growth and breeding were encouraged.

2. Development

Irrespective of their development circumstances, Springer’s melding with Cocker Spaniel created a hybrid species that is friendly, energetic, and extremely intelligent and that could be trained to work outside and as a family pet.

But it took a long time for the breed to be officially recognized. It is important to understand that the founding breeds of the Sprocker, the Cocker, and the Springer, were earlier categorized into one breed and termed ‘Land Spaniels,’ before the 1870s, the separation criteria between the two were not created.

After the formation of the Kennel Club in the UK in 1873, efforts were made by breeders to record the pedigrees of Cockers and Springers, and 19 years later; the Kennel Club recognized the English Cocker and English Springer Spaniels as a separate breed.

Despite recognition of the individual species, the Sprocker is not recognized by the Kennel Club because of its hybrid status ( bred from two separate breeds ). Instead, they are recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry, a registry for designer hybrid canines where the Sprocker Spaniel is recognized as a medium-sized working companion breed.

A fact often overlooked while discussing hybrid puppies is that, unlike pure breeds with uniform size, appearance, and temperament, hybrids may look different despite being of the same litter and have a unique appearance than their siblings.

Fortunately, careful breeding has resulted in a uniform appearance of the Sprocker Spaniels and provided them the reputation of being among the few mixed-breed Spaniels to look similar in a litter.

A Sprocker Spaniel is a medium-sized hunting/working dog with a loving, affectionate, and playful nature that can be trained to hunt, retrieve or follow your commands to the hilt. They are great with children and have a lively and outgoing personalities making them the pet of choice for large families.

Let’s discuss in brief Sprocker’s appearance and characteristics.

B. Sprocker Spaniel Appearance and Characteristics

1. Physical Appearance of the Sprocker Spaniel

A typical Sprocker litter consists of five to six puppies, of which the firstborn

weigh more than the ones born later. Keeping in mind whether the Sprocker has been bred from an American or an English Cocker, it will have a varied skull shape and muzzle depending on whether the parent is an American or English Cocker.

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Sprockers are famous for their intelligent brown eyes, but other than brown, the eye color can be blue or hazel.

Sprocker puppies are born with a light-colored pinkish nose that will darken to a brownish or darker color as they grow older.

Along with long, wide muzzles, they have strong jaws and pink gums with a scissor bite.

Retaining the characteristics of the parent breed, Sprockers have hanging ears with a variety of coat colors depending on the colors of their parent breed. A Sprocker can have a single or a double coat splashed or speckled with other colors. Some of the coat colors of a Sprocker Spaniel are

Black and White

Liver and White
Chocolate and White
Tricolor

Roan
Solid Colors

The coat color and type of Sprocker give an idea of their dominant parent breed. For Eg – on taking the characteristics of Cocker Spaniels, the coat will have a solid texture, and on taking the characteristics of Springers, the coat will have a speckled texture with other variations in coat features.

The color of their nose is in accordance with their fur color, with a furry tail that ends in a plume. Sprockers have a low-maintenance coat that requires simple brushing every few days to keep it clean and shining.

2. Unique Characteristics and Development

Sprocker Spaniels have a lifespan of 12-15 years, but some may live longer. Most Sprockers reach their fully grown height between the ages of 9-12 months but continue to grow muscularly till the next 12 months and reach full maturity between 18-24 months.

Sprockers come from mixing two intelligent dog breeds and, as a result, are highly intelligent breeds. It is important to briefly discuss the types of intelligence observed in canines to understand the intelligence levels of Sprocker Spaniels.

As mentioned by Stanley Coren in his book “The Intelligence of Dogs’, there are three categories of dog intelligence.

Instinctive intelligence or the ability of a dog to carry out the tasks it was bred to perform, like guarding, hunting, retrieving

Adaptive intelligence, or the ability of a dog to solve problems on its own

Working and Obedience Intelligence refers to how quickly one can obey instructions or learn from humans.

Keeping in mind that both Cockers and Springers have high levels of intelligence and rank among the top 20 intelligent breeds, Sprockers, irrespective of the dominant breed characteristics, are intelligent creatures that rank well in all three intelligence categories.

Adding their intelligence to their high energy levels makes them a boisterous and mischievous breed that needs to be adequately trained with regular exercise to shed their energy and exercise their intellect. A Sprocker needs at least two 30-45 minute walks a day with the opportunity to a big yard or a garden where they can chase and run to their heart’s content.

Failure to do so can make them restless and destructive, and aggressive in some conditions. Because of their energy and intelligence levels, canine experts recommend a bigger house with a yard for Sprockers and owners with previous experience with handling high-energy canines.

Sprockers are not ideal for first-time canine owners or those living in cramped spaces or apartments. Because of their active lifestyle, they must be groomed regularly to get dirt and debris off their coats and retain their shine.

C. Sprocker Spaniel Health and Care

Before evaluating the health issues in Sprocker Spaniels, it would be wise to evaluate the health complications associated with Springer and Cockers, the fusion of which has resulted in the Sprocker breed.

Some of the health problems common in a Springer Spaniel are

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

Phosphofructokinase Deficiency
Obesity
Ear Infections

Eye problems like Ectropion and Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Distichiasis

Health problems observed in Cocker Spaniels are

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Luxating Patella
Glaucoma and Cataracts
Phosphofructokinase Deficiency

Considering the above disease predispositions, the following are the conditions that Sprockers are at a higher risk of developing.

1. Common Health Issues in Sprocker Spaniels

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

English Springer Spaniels have almost double the risk of developing hip and elbow dysplasia than other breeds, putting Sprockers at a medium risk of the problem as well.

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Phosphofructokinase Deficiency

Phosphofructokinase Deficiency is an enzyme deficiency in dogs that results in inactivity or adverse reactions to being active.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is an inherited, painless condition that leads to blindness in dogs. Both Cockers and Springers have a genetic predisposition to progressive retinal atrophy that also puts Sprockers at risk.

Obesity

The ideal weight of a Sprocker is usually between 30-37 pounds depending on the size of its parents, and when beyond the required weight, it is considered overweight. Overfeeding and lack of exercise are some of the chief reasons for obesity in Sprockers, and it can impact their lifespan to a significant extent.

Allergy

Allergy is a common problem observed in Sprocker Spaniels despite a hypoallergenic coat. Allergy symptoms are observed with the Sprocker scratching or chewing at themselves in the sensitive spots. Dander, environmental allergens, and foods are some of the chief allergy triggers. But cigarettes, mold, and exhaust from cars can also act as secondhand allergens.

2. Tips for Maintaining their Health and wellbeing

Some of the chief ways in which you can maintain your spaniel’s health and wellbeing are:-

Proper Nutrition and Diet

A proper diet can go a long way in ensuring that your Sprocker stays healthy and in good spirits. After completing the nursing period, you must monitor their weaning into a combination of solid and wet food. Some of the best dry foods for a Sprocker Puppy are

Royal Canine Cocker Puppy Dry Food
Farmina Puppy N&D Pumpkin, Chicken, and Pomegranate Dry Food
Fidele Puppy Small and Medium Breed Dog

Some of the wet foods ideal for a Sprocker puppy are

Pedigree Puppy Morsels in Sauce
Royal Canin Puppy Loaf in Sauce
Purina Puppy Chow Pate Real Beef and Chicken Wet Puppy food

For an older Sprocker, you can opt for dry foods like

Barking Heads Dry Food
Taste of the Wild Dry Food
Royal Canin Medium Aging 10+ Formula

Wet foods for older Sprockers include

Wainwright’s range of adult wet food
Royal Canin wet food for adult dogs
JerHigh Chicken and Vegetable in Gravy Wet Dog Food

Both Wet and Dry Foods can be given in moderate amounts daily as per the dietary requirements of your Sprocker Adult or puppy. Other than store brands, natural protein sources like chicken, turkey, fish, lamb, pork, venison, and beef can be added to their daily food for added health benefits. Homemade food is an excellent option if you have the time and means. However, consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist about the nutritional requirements and calorie needs and whether home-cooked food is adequate for them.

You should also ensure that you maintain a feeding schedule and do not overfeed them.

a) Feeding Schedule

The feeding schedule of Sprockers depends on their age and general health status. Usually, Sprocker puppies are fed by the feeding rule of thumb, i.e., 10% of their current weight or 2-3% of their projected adult weight each day while staying within 400-700 calories.

Adult Sprockers are advised to be fed 2-3% of their body weight with a 1000-1400 calorie limit. Besides the calorie count, adhering to the following guidelines while feeding Sprocker Spaniels is essential.

Divide their feeding times into three or more parts while including a mixture of dry, wet, and prepared foods in their diets.

Ensure that the food is hypoallergenic and gluten-free.

Check that the ingredients are grain-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

Set regular meal times and remove the food that has yet to be eaten even after 20 minutes of serving.

b) Treats

Treats are one of the best ways of keeping your spaniel happy and ready to obey your commands. But ensure that the treats do not exceed 10% of daily food intake. Instead of opting for raw hides that are difficult to digest and can pose a choking hazard for the Sprocker, opt instead for soft treats that are easy to chew and tear apart and easier to digest.

Healthy treats come in a variety of forms like

Hard treats

Slow eating treats that your Sprocker will take time to finish.

For Eg – Charlie Bear Natural Crunch, Barkworthies Lamb Lung Dog Treats

Soft treats

That is faster and easier for your Sprocker and has a more pungent smell that will keep its attention while training.

For Eg – Hills Natural Soft Savouries, Hills Grain-Free Soft Baked Naturals

Dental treats

Dental treats are touch sticks of edible material that are appetizing for the Sprocker and help in its oral hygiene by scraping plaque off its teeth and keeping its gums clean.

E.g., Dental Treats by Natural Dog Company, Cocochew Dental Treats by Unilac

Jerky treats

Jerky Treats are Nutrient dense meat snacks that have been cooked and dehydrated to make them shelf stable. They work well as an occasional treat for your Sprocker.

E.g., Pedigree Meat Jerky Adult Chicken, Duck, and Blueberry Jerky Treats by Pet Jerky Factory

Human treats

Fresh Foods with minimal or no processing work as excellent natural treats for Sprockers. E.g., fruits like deseeded apples, bananas, oranges, and cranberries.

Read the ingredients before deciding on the treats, and make sure you use them from a trusted company dedicated to its brand.

Above all, ensure that you balance their food habits and exercise and activity requirements so they don’t end up under or overfed.

3. Exercise and Activity Requirements

Because of its origin from a combination of hunting breeds, the Sprocker is a highly energetic breed that needs regular exercise and playtime to stay fit.

Sprockers need at least 70 minutes of daily exercise with added enrichment and play to keep them physically and mentally busy.

Canine Enrichment includes providing activities and environments for your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Some of the methods of enrichment are

Stuffed Kong

Cardboard Box Puzzles

Treat Dispensing balls

Other activities stimulating your Sprocker are snuffle mats and game-based training methods like tug of war and hide and seek.

4. Grooming Needs and Coat Care

Sprocker Spaniels love to play and stick their noses in anything that piques their interest. As a result, they need regular grooming to keep dirt and dust off their coats.

Before proceeding further, it is essential to understand that Sprockers have two layers of fur on their bodies. A top layer that protects them and collects dirt and debris, and an undercoat that regulates their body temperatures in summer and winter.

Shaving or clipping them can damage both coat layers and permanently damage their texture. Instead, brushing their coats with an Undercoat brush will help maintain their fur and keep it clean.

Bathing your Sprocker should be done when

When they look visibly dirty
When they have been in muddy waters or swamps
When they smell

But be careful not to bathe them too often as they can catch a cold. Excessive bathing can strip the essential oils off their furs and produce coarse fur.

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Sprockers like Cockers and Springers do not have a lot of furs. Even then, they are prone to matting, especially behind their ears and legs. Gently cutting the mats is the best option in such conditions, but taking the help of a professional groomer can help when the mats are deep and extensive.

Regular brushing can prevent dirt and debris with matting to a significant extent. But you need to be especially careful of foreign bodies like grass lawns as they can get into its fur and skin and sometimes even be inhaled by them.