We want to introduce you to a dog from the spaniel group, the boykin spaniel, whose appearance may remind us of an English cocker spaniel. These dogs originate from the United States, where they were faithful companions to the peacock hunters of South Carolina. But they are not only excellent retrievers, they are kind animals and very predisposed to work, but above all family and affectionate.
These adorable and good-natured dogs have gone, and rightly so, from being a hunting dog to being one of the most valued dogs to have at home, loving family life. In this AnimalWised file we present the characteristics, care and he alth of the boykin spaniel dog
Origin of the boykin spaniel
The boykin spaniel breed emerged in South Carolina, USA, in the first decade of the last century. The first specimen of the boykin spaniel was born in the town of Spartanburg, highlighting its hunting skills and its impressive resemblance to other spaniel-type dogs. It is believed to have come from crosses between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Cocker Spaniel, and the American Water Spaniel. This puppy was given as a gift to a hunter named Boykin, hence the breed was developed thanks to this hunter crossing it with other spaniels.
This breed was developed by hunters in the area, as they needed a retriever that was smaller in size than the retrievers that were already present in the state at the time. Due to this need, justified by the limited space of the boats, which they used to go out to hunt wild turkeys and various waterfowl, they also had to carry their supplies and tools necessary for fishing in these boats.
Boykin Spaniel Physical Characteristics
Boykin Spaniels are Medium-sized dogs with an average weight of 13.5 to 18 kilograms, with a height at the withers ranging between 39.4 and 43.2 centimeters in males. For females the weight is between 11, 4 and 15, 9 kilos and they measure between 35 and 42centimeters high. Their life expectancy ranges between 14 and 16 years, approximately.
These dogs have a robust and compact body morphology, with muscular and straight limbs, ending in oval webbed feet and his back is equally straight and solid.
A boykin's head is broad, with rounded sides and a flattened top. Their jaws are elongated and powerful. The ears are flat and located above the eye line and close to the head. The brown eyes are medium in size, set quite far apart and oval in shape.
The coat of these dogs has a two-layer structure, with an underlayer and an outer layer. This outer layer is of moderate length and has different lengths depending on the body area. In this way it is longer in the fringes that it presents on the ears, legs, chest and belly. This mantle can be wavy to smooth, dense and varies in hardness.
Boykin Spaniel Character
Boykin breed dogs stand out for their good character, as well as being very docile and affectionate, they are tremendously eager and intelligent. That is why they have been truly appreciated as retrievers for decades.
But this doesn't have to make us think that these dogs are just hunters, because anyone who has spent time with a boykin spaniel reports the noble and familiarthat they are, being ideal as domestic dogs. They are more than suitable for families with children, as well as for coexistence with other dogs, since they are adaptive, respectful and patient.
They are also very sociable, showing no reluctance in contact with new situations, people or animals, and it is very rare for a boykin to show aggressive attitudes.
Boykin Spaniel Care
Boykin spaniels are dogs that do not need excessive care for their he alth to be good, as well as to present a neat and well-groomed appearance. One of the fundamental aspects for a boykin is the daily physical exercise, this being high intensity, because they are extremely energetic.
Regarding the care of his coat, it is recommended that he brush at least one brush a week, with occasional baths that allow him to maintain his fur clean and shiny. For brushing we have to choose a brush suitable for his coat, which is medium-length and dense, and may need a different comb or brush to remove possible tangles from his fringes, which are somewhat longer.
We also have to offer them a quality diet, balanced and adjusted to their needs. It is also imperative that they always have access to fresh, clean water, thus avoiding dehydration.
Boykin Spaniel Training
If the boykin spaniel stands out for something, it is because of its affable character and its docility, being considered as one of the easiest dog breeds to train.
They are not stubborn dogs nor will they be reluctant to obey, especially if they have had an early basic education, which is recommended. Nor does their socialization need special attention, we just have to gradually expose them to dealing with other people or animals, without having to take special measures, because they are sociable and open by nature.
Many of these dogs are trained to hunt, especially waterfowl. This is because they are good retrievers, but they also have great swimming skills. They love the water, so there are many families that take them to the beaches, lakes or reservoirs when they go to spend the day with the family. They will love this as they will enjoy family company while playing and exercising.
Boykin Spaniel He alth
Boykin spaniels present a series of pathologies associated with their breed and genetic inheritance. One of them is the well-known and feared hip dysplasia This condition may require drastic veterinary measures such as trauma surgery to correct them in cases of advanced dysplasia. For this reason it is vital to carry out regular veterinary check-ups in order to make an early diagnosis, as this will improve the prognosis. Other joint diseases that the breed suffers from are degenerative myelopathy, which does not have a curative treatment, only palliative. Also the patellar luxation, which affects the he alth of the patella, which dislocates and this causes pain and varying degrees of lameness.
Other alterations can also occur, such as external otitis, which is very frequent in breeds such as the Boykin, since its ears are close to its head and this prevents the auditory canal from aerating properly. They usually suffer from different eye conditions, such as juvenile cataracts, which differ from the usual cataracts due to their early appearance, or the collie eye anomaly, which consists of an underdevelopment of the ocular choroid, which triggers blindness, which is very typical of collies. border collies
Other diseases that can appear in the breed is pulmonary stenosis, which consists of a heart anomaly or collapse due to excessive exercise, caused by too strenuous physical activity, being a genetic disease.
