Spreagle -- English Springer Spaniel X Beagle

		Spreagle
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Spreagle

The Spreagle is a hybrid of the English Springer Spaniel and the Beagle. This breed combination blends two pure breeds that were developed for hunting and tracking, and the result is a wonderful combination. With the world-famous nose of the Beagle parent and the versatile talents of the English Springer Spaniel parent, if you have a hunter at home, this medium-sized dog will fit right in. Even if there are no hunters in this family, he may be able to help you find your car keys, the little one's backpack, the little one's special blue sweater or even the long, tapered-nosed pliers you haven't seen in months. It will also find its way into the heart of every member of the family, and maybe even into the neighbor's.

History of the Spreagle

The place and approximate date of origin of this hybrid are not available, but we can most probably assume that the Spreagle was developed in the USA in the late 1900s or early 2000s, when interest in mixing pure breeds for many reasons became more popular. The history of the parent breeds will shed more light on this interesting and adorable hybrid mix. The Spreagle hybrid itself is recognized by the Dog Registry of America.

	A little of the English Springer Spaniel
	The English Springer Spaniel originated, as its name suggests, in England, and its origins can be traced back to images depicted in various works of art from the 16th and 17th centuries. Back then, hunting was very different from what it is today, as guns had not yet been invented. Hunters used hawks or nets to capture and kill their prey. The English Springer Spaniel was bred to hunt and flush game, then to retrieve it. Today, the Springer is bred for different functions; one variety is bred for conformation shows while the other is bred for field performance. There are few Springers that perform well in both areas. The English Springer Spaniel was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1910 and is the 26th most popular breed in its registry.

	Standard of the English Springer Spaniel


	A little of the Beagle
	The Beagle's history dates back to the time of King Arthur in Britain, before Roman times, and it is thought to have contributed to the creation of most, if not all, of the hound breeds that followed. The Beagle has a worldwide reputation for having the most scent-sensitive nose in the canine world. He is and always has been a sniffer, and these instincts are still extremely strong in the Beagle we know today. He was bred to hunt hares and rabbits back in the day, and today he continues to be used, not only in hunting and tracking activities and competitions, but also as a beloved companion and furry family member. The Beagle was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and is the 5th most popular breed in this registry.

	Standard of the Beagle

Appearance of the Spreagle

Your hybrid Spreagle is a mix of Beagle and English Springer Spaniel and, as such, may inherit appearance traits from one or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners of the hybrid Spreagle describe it as weighing around 18 kilos and measuring around 53.5 centimeters, with a thick, silky coat that tends to shed, the most common colors being brown, black and white. Its tail can be of variable length, carried curled over its back or hanging down. Its eyes can be brown or hazel, its nose black and its ears can be of medium or long length, drooping close to the head.

Temperament of the Spreagle

Your hybrid Spreagle is a mix of Beagle and English Springer Spaniel and, as such, may have the temperament and personality traits of either or both parent breeds. Owners and breeders of the hybrid Spreagle describe it as fun-loving, loyal and an excellent companion for children. In addition, his parents can provide him with traits such as kindness, affection, alertness, energy, independence, intelligence, gentleness and sociability. Your Spreagle Hybrid is known to bark when people approach his home, making him an excellent watchdog. Because he comes from active breeds, he'll need regular exercise to manage his energy levels and avoid the annoying, frustrating destructive behaviors that accompany boredom in an intelligent dog. Because he's an intelligent dog, he'll need to be stimulated both physically and mentally when you consider his exercise regime. He's independent, so for those of you who are new dog owners or novices, know that it's important to firmly and lovingly establish who's boss as early as possible in your relationship with him. This independence is likely to be at the root of his training challenge. Be patient, kind and encouraging, starting with the basics and building on them with positive training and encouragement. He'll need to be properly socialized to ensure he gets on well with children, the family cat and other dogs. Expect him to warn you of approaching strangers and to be wary of them until he feels there is no danger to his human family.

Needs and activities of the Spreagle

Your Spreagle Hybrid is an active dog who needs at least two hours of daily exercise to stay fit, happy and mentally and physically healthy. This exercise can take the form of several long daily walks or jogs, playtime in a dog park, fenced yard or other secure enclosure, interactive games of fetch, Frisbee, flyball, earth dog activities, agility training, obedience training and search games both indoors and out. This is a dog with a high degree of hunting/prey instinct combined with a strong tendency to wander. It is therefore strongly recommended that you keep him on a leash when he is outside the house, fenced garden or other secure enclosure, unless you have built into your exercise program the energy and time needed to chase him down the street, through neighborhood gardens or into woods and streams in search of a small animal or interesting scent that has caught his eye. Depending on which breed parent has the greatest influence on his size in the biological mix, he may or may not adapt to life in an apartment or condominium, his tendency to bark also having to be taken into account in this type of housing. However, it can adapt very well to a family home, with or without a fenced yard, in an urban or rural environment, in a temperate climate where it benefits from sufficient extra protection in the event of extreme temperatures.

Maintenance of the Spreagle

Your Spreagle Hybrid falls into the moderate maintenance and shedding category. His coat is not hypoallergenic. Since he falls into the moderate shedding category, you should expect to brush him several times a week, and probably increase the frequency of vacuuming. He won't need to be bathed, unless there's a build-up of dirt or doggy odor. His ears should be checked weekly and cleaned if necessary, using a cotton ball and an approved canine ear cleaner. Be sure to check his nails at least once a month and trim them if necessary, unless he can maintain them through normal physical activity.