Boykin Spaniel

Grooming Tips

The Boykin’s medium length double coat can be flat to slightly wavy with a light fringe of hair, called feathering, on the ears, chest, legs and belly.Weekly brushing and the occasional bath will keep your Boykin’s coat in good shape. If you want, you can have a professional groomer clip the coat as needed for neatness. The coat sheds moderately, but regular brushing will help keep dead hair off your furniture, floors and clothing.The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually once a month. Brush the teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath. Check the ears weekly for dirt, redness or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. If the ears look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle ear cleaner recommended by your veterinarian.

Exercise Tips

Boykins have moderate to high energy and require lots ofexercisesevery day.They do best with active people, especially those seeking an athletic partner for activities like hiking, running, or biking. Regular exercise will help keep the Boykin healthy and happy. This can come in the form of long walks and play sessions.The breed also exercises mind and body by participating inobedience,tracking,agility,rally,field events, and other activities that can be enjoyed by both dog and owner.

Feeding Tips

As with many breeds, you can feed your Boykin Spaniel a high-quality commercial dog food or prepare homemade meals for it.Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not.Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

Boykin Spaniels don't have many health problems, but there are some significant concerns. The most frequent one, hip dysplasia, is stated to have an alarmingly high incidence rate no less than 30% even as it may be declining in frequency.While hip dysplasia may be on the wane in this breed, a new concern was discovered in 2010: Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC). A few years later, in 2013, Collie Eye Anomaly was found in Boykins. Yet another ailment was added year later: Degenerative Myelopathy.Here are many of the health problems of Boykins:HypothyroidismHeart problemsElbow dysplasiaPatella luxationEndocrine disordersCushing's SyndromeInherited heart disease

Trainability

Because it is intelligent, Boykin Spaniels are considered easy to train, but only if you invest the proper time and effort. Even with all of its natural abilities, you will have to take the lead and teach your dog how you want it to behave and you have to make a commitment if you want your dog to develop to its full potential. If you need extra help or plan to take it hunting, you may want to consider a professional trainer or training classes.For the most part, Boykin Spaniels are eager to please, which makes training them much easier. This breed can be somewhat sensitive, so use positive dog training methods such as praise and rewards to ensure the best results. Stick to these methods and you should have no trouble training your Boykin Spaniel.

The Boykin Spaniel is a regional breed from South Carolina and in particular, from Spartanburg. The inadvertent founding stock for this extremely talented "companionable gun dog," as the breed is colloquially known, was allegedly discovered sometime in the latter half of the first decade of the 20th century.It took several decades before any formal organization took hold regarding the breed's recognition. In 1970, attempts to establish registry were begun. By 1977, the Boykin Spaniel Society was formed. In 1985, the Boykin became the State Dog of South Carolina. In 2009, the American Kennel Club (AKC) formally recognized the breed and categorized the breed as a Spaniel.