BOYKIN SPANIEL — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information Breed Description
Breed Registries:	The Boykin Spaniel Society (BSS) Note 1 Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - Not recognized American Kennel Club (AKC) Note 2 - AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Program since 1997. - Miscellaneous Class United Kennel Club (UKC) - Gundog Breeds
Note: The all-breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America. Notes: — The Boykin Spaniel Society maintains its own registry of purebred Boykin Spaniels. A litter must be registered with the Society before one year of age. No dogs are accepted for registration after this time. — Effective 1 January 2008, the Boykin Spaniel will be eligible to compete in the AKC Miscellaneous Class. See http://www.akc.org/reg/fss_news.cfm for full details. The breeds currently eligible to participate in the Miscellaneous Class are still enrolled in the AKC Foundation Stock Service®. FSS® enrollment is maintained until the AKC Board of Directors accepts the breed for regular status.
Height:	Male: 15 1/2 to 18 inches Female: 14 to 16 1/2 inches
Weight:	Male: 30 to 40 lbs. Female: 25 to 35 lbs.
The Boykin Spaniel is the official dog of South Carolina and was originally bred by South Carolina hunters to be the ideal dog for hunting wild turkeys during the 1900s. The typical Boykin Spaniel is friendly and eager to please. He is first and foremost a hunting dog, with abilities in both retrieving and flushing. He is agile, intelligent, and easily trained. The Boykin is also a strong swimmer and therefore valuable as a water retriever as well as in the field. The coat is of medium length, flat to somewhat curly and comes in a solid, rich liver or dark chocolate. The Boykin makes an excellent companion, hunting dog and family friend. They enjoy being made part of a family and affection or attention never affects their hunting instincts. TOP Health Issues: If you are considering the adoption of a Boykin Spaniel puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. This should include, among others, hip x-rays to exclude hip dysplasia and eyes should be checked to see that they are normal and PRA clear. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.) Some health problems which have been seen in the Boykin Spaniel breed include: Hip Dysplasia; Eye problems, with cataracts being the most commonly diagnosed problem in the Boykin; and skin allergies. Additional Health Resources: Health and Nutrition — Canada's Guide to Dogs growing section on several health and nutrition related issues. Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip) QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs TOP Breed Standards: The Boykin Spaniel Society Breed Standard AKC Breed Standard UKC Breed Standard (Revised 1 January 2008) TOP Grooming: Grooming Your Boykin Spaniel TOP Training Resources: Boykin Spaniels, with many natural abilities, are known to be relatively easy to train. Early socialization, in all types of situations, is important with any breed including the Boykin. Training — For information on training your Boykin Spaniel, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada. Training Tools & Equipment Choose from a wide variety of items from Dogwise.com TOP Additional Information: Clubs, Sports and Activities — Information on various dog sports and activities as well as non-breed specific clubs from across Canada. (For Boykin Spaniel breed specific clubs, please see the Breed Clubs section.) Working Dogs — Information on the working dog, including Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, SAR Dogs, and much more. Plus lists of organizations from across Canada.