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Spangold Retriever | Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Personality & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Spangold Retriever

Height: 14 – 16 inches
Weight: 60 – 65 pounds
Lifespan: Up to 14 years
Colors: Black, red, cream
Suitable for: Families or singles
Temperament: Highly intelligent and friendly

The Spangold Retriever is a cross between an English Springer Spaniel and a Golden Retriever, which are both highly intelligent and family-friendly breeds. They are especially good with children and are highly sociable and love to be around people. Spangold Retrievers, or Golden Springer Spaniels, have striking eyes that will make you fall instantly in love with them. They are highly intelligent and easy to train and make great watchdogs. They aren’t active dogs and prefer to lounge around with their owners, making them ideal lap dogs. That said, they will still need regular exercise in order to remain healthy and happy.

There is little known about the Spangold Retriever’s origins, though Spaniels in general are thought to have originated in Spain and were used to flush out small birds when hunting. The Golden Retriever has its origins in Scotland and was also used in hunting due to its prized retriever abilities. The combination of these two popular breeds results in a highly intelligent and easily trainable dog who loves to be around humans.

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Spangold Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Spangold Retriever puppies are one of the more expensive crossbreed puppies, but the price can vary greatly depending on demand, breeder, and availability. Spaniels and Golden Retrievers in general are highly priced, so the crossbreed is not much different.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Spangold Retriever

1. Spangolds are notoriously docile.

Spangold Retrievers tend to be fairly lazy dogs, even as puppies. While they can have moments of explosive energy, they generally prefer to lounge around with their owner than rough play with other dogs. This makes them an ideal pet for families or an owner who doesn’t have much time to provide them with exercise.


2. They shed frequently.

The thick and wavy coat of a Spangold is prone to shedding, so they’re fairly high maintenance. Their floppy ears and feathered tail and legs will require regular brushing and cleaning. Regular brushing and grooming are essential for Spangolds, as their coats will get matted quickly if left unchecked.


3. They are natural hunters.

Both Springer Spaniels and Golden Retrievers have been used for hunting traditionally, so a Spangold will have a natural hunting instinct. They will swiftly go after any small prey and are best kept in a well-fenced yard to avoid them going hunting and getting lost. This can be mitigated by leash training and playing with toys and balls.

Parent Breeds of the Spangold Retriever
Image Credit: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of Spangold Retrievers 🧠

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Spangold Retriever is an ideal family pet. They are confident and easily trainable and love to be around people and children. They have a cheerful demeanor and love to play, with a highly trustworthy temperament. They love and trust children and have a high level of tolerance for them. They inherit their loyal quality from their Golden Retriever parent and tend to always be by their owner’s side. Their ease of trainability makes them a great option for first-time dog owners.

While they are friendly and sociable, they will bark at strangers at first, but they will warm up to them quickly when they sense no threat. This makes them great guard dogs, as they are attentive and alert.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Spangold retriever is highly friendly and sociable and will generally get along great with other dogs and family pets. They might get along too well with other dogs of the same or similar breed, however, as this can trigger their innate pack-hunting instincts, so they need to be in a well-fenced yard. Early socialization with other humans and pets will go a long way in helping then get along with strangers and other dogs.

Whether with other humans, or other dogs and pets, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a friendlier dog.

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Things to Know When Owning a Spangold Retriever

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Spangold Retriever is a small to medium breed of dog, so they will need a fairly substantial amount of feeding. Depending on the type food they are getting, a good daily average of around 3 cups of dry dog pellets per day is sufficient. Dry pellets are a great option, as they help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy, but these should be supplemented with wet food. A high-quality wet food is a good way to add moisture to your dog’s diet. Like all dogs, a Spangold Retriever needs constant access to fresh, clean water.

They also need a good source of essential fatty acids, which are good for their thick and dense coats and their general health and well-being. They will need adequate protein as well, which will assist with skin, nail, bone, and muscle health. A dog’s body cannot store protein, so they will need a constant supply. While carbohydrates are not essential to your dog’s diet, they do contain important vitamins and minerals that can assist with overall health and provide a great source of energy. That said, carbohydrates like wheat or corn can quickly make them overweight and lead to various health issues and should be avoided.

Most dogs need an average of around 25-30 calories per pound per day to maintain a healthy weight, and an average Spangold weighs in at around 60 pounds. This means they’ll need to get about 1,500-2,000 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight. This can be altered depending on how active your Spangold is and depending on their age. Calories are not all made equal, though, so you’ll want to give them the best quality food you can afford.

Exercise 🐕

Although Spangold Retrievers are a fairly lazy breed, they still require regular exercise. They ideally need around 45 minutes of brisk walking a day, and if this is not strictly adhered to, it can quickly lead to behavioral problems. Regular exercise and quality time with your Spangold will also help with bonding and prevent separation anxiety.

Their highly trainable nature makes them easy to put on a leash, though their propensity for hunting makes leash training absolutely necessary. They will always follow their instincts when coming into contact with small animals and chase them for miles without stopping. This can easily lead to a lost dog, or it can be dangerous when in an area with high traffic.

While Spangolds will love to play with toys and ball, this cannot be counted as exercise. The best exercise for a dog is a brisk walk or a run alongside a bicycle.

Training 🦮

The Spangold Retriever’s heritage of the Golden Retriever means they are a highly intelligent dog and thus, a breeze to train. This ease of training makes them a great option for first-time dog owners. Their finely-tuned hunting skills are excellent at tracking prey, and this scenting instinct follows over to their training. They will swiftly pick up any training cues and commands and relish any treats given in return. One of the best training methods for Spangolds is using positive reinforcement, which is the concept that rewarding good behavior will lead to more of that behavior in the future. They will take to this method quickly, due to their inherent desire to please their owners.

Spangolds are clever dogs, and in addition to regular walks, they will benefit greatly from games and activities that require chasing, scenting, and catching and fetching.

Grooming ✂️

The thick and medium-length coat of a Spangold Retriever requires regular, if not daily, brushing and grooming. Their coat is fairly prone to tangling and matting if not looked after, and pay attention to their feathered tails, legs, and ears. They are high-shedding dogs, especially in the spring and fall, and during these times, they should ideally be brushed daily.

Pellet-based foods are usually enough to keep your Spangold’s teeth clean, but occasional brushing will prevent tartar build-up, bad breath, and tooth decay. Their nails are not particularly fast-growing but should be regularly trimmed to prevent injury or infection.

Health and Conditions ❤️

A Spangold retriever has big, floppy ears that hang over their face. While this gives them their adorable, irresistible look, their heavy ears hang tightly on their head with limited airflow and can thus be prone to infection if not cleaned regularly. It is also important to dry the inside of the ear canals after they get bathed or go swimming, as this can greatly reduce the risk of infection. This can be quickly remedied if caught early, so if you notice any repeated scratching, head rubbing, or discharge, your dog should be taken to a vet as soon as possible.

Another common ailment among Spangolds is atopic dermatitis. Their thick coat can make them prone to this illness if not cleaned regularly, but they can also have underlying allergies that cause skin disorders. If you notice any signs of itchiness displayed by excessive licking, scratching, and rubbing, a visit to the vet is the best bet. Hip dysplasia is common among Golden Retrievers, and this genetic disposition can follow over into Spangolds.

Neutering a male dog has many associated health benefits, including preventing testicular cancer, reducing aggression, and stopping their instinctual desire for wandering and looking for a mate. Similarly, spaying a female will assist in preventing uterine infections or even breast cancer. It is recommended to do the spaying before her first heat, as this will further help prevent these complications. Neutering and spaying are highly recommended for general health benefits unless of course, you are planning on breeding. That said, if you want to breed a female Spangold, it is far better for her health to do so only after she has experienced at least one or two heat cycles.

Minor Conditions
  • Ear infections
  • Atopic dermatitis
Serious Conditions
  • Cancer
  • Hip dysplasia

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Male vs. Female

While there is not a massive difference in size, male Spangold Retrievers tend to be slightly taller and heavier. Female Spangold Retrievers tend to be calmer and more placid, and this is true among Spaniels and Golden retrievers in general. While Spangolds are not known to be a hyperactive breed, the males can be more hyper than females and are easily excited and distracted.

Female Golden Springer Spaniels tend to mature faster than male Golden Springer Spaniels and can thus be trained earlier. Females are also more independent and less needy than males, while males can be more affectionate. Neutering males will calm them down a bit and prevent them from becoming aggressive or wandering.

That said, all dogs, males or females, have unique personalities that can differ greatly from one to the other. The upbringing and environment of your Spangold Retrievers is a far more accurate determinant of their character than their sex.

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Final Thoughts

The Spangold Retriever will make a fantastic pet. Their lovable and loyal nature makes them ideal for kids, and their highly trainable character is perfect for first-time dog owners. Spangolds have adorable eyes that will make you fall in love at first sight, and their droopy ears and fuzzy coats make them great to lounge around with and cuddle.

Spangolds do take a fair bit of maintenance, and their coats need regular brushing and grooming. They love being around people, can become quite attached to their owner, and will suffer separation anxiety if left alone for long periods.

If you are looking for a lovable, loyal, and highly intelligent dog to add to your family, the Spangold Retriever is a wonderful choice.

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Featured Image Credit: klimkin, Pixabay

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