A sprollie is a cross between a English springer spaniel, and a border collie. Yes, you guessed it right: sprollie is a portmanteau word for springer and collie.
Either the mum is a springer and the dad is a border collie, or the other way around; it doesn't matter.
The sprollie is not an established breed. It's not recognized by the UK Kennel Club or the AKC, and there is no breed standards. Some call it a 'designer breed' but let's face it: a sprollie is a mongrel, a mutt, a hybrid, or as we call it in the city I originally come from, a 'zinneke'. And that's a blessing.
Let's have a look at the parents...
The English springer spaniel is a gun dog traditionally used for flushing game birds out of high grass (its leaping in the grass earned it the name 'springer'), and for retrieving the prey once it has been shot. It's a medium sized breed, about 20 inches (45 cm) tall from the shoulder, and weighing about 45 pounds (20 kg). Springers have a double coat and can be any combination of the following colours: black, white, tan, and liver. They have long, lobular ears and a feathered tail that they wag a lot. Springers are athletic, lively and EXTREMELY energetic dogs. They are good-natured and make wonderful pets.
Chelsea as a pup with her mum,a springer spaniel
The border collie is a herding dog, arguably considered the world's best. They are about the same size and weight as a springer. Colour-wise they can be a range of different colours, but the 'typical' border collie is black and white. Their coat can be 'rough' or 'smooth', but either way it's a double coat. Their ears are typically pricked or semi-erect, and they usually have a bushy tail. They are known to be hard-working and extremely intelligent. Their loyalty is beyond compare.
A typical border collie.
The sprollie is the best of both breeds. Typically, though not always, they will inherit the black and white colour of the border collie, and pendular ears of the springer.
Gracie, a friend's sprollie who inspired Chelsea's lovely ears
us to by a dog, is actually tan and white
Sprollies are super-smart, extremely energetic, good-natured and loyal dogs
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