Boykin Training and Grooming Tips
Teaching/Training Resources
In response to periodic inquiries from Boykin Spaniel Society members, we've compiled some suggested reading and viewing materials which address dog behavior and dog training. Our Boykins are thought of as being extremely unique, and in many respects they are, but generally they are like most of the other dogs developed for the purpose of being cooperative hunting dogs. Conditioning your dog to be a polite member of the household does take a lot of understanding that dogs aren't like human children: we have to learn how to communicate with them in their natural ways. Luckily, a well-bred healthy puppy is ready and eager to learn what is expected from the pack leader.
The materials we suggest here are not meant to be an endorsement of any author, and we certainly do not mean to imply that these are the only materials to explore. We just think these are some of the better resources that can become a part of your library. They are presented in three groupings:
- General Training for building the foundation for learning inside both of you
- Basic Training for Retrievers and Flushers to get both of you on track to be happy, skilled co-workers
- Advanced Training for Retrievers will aid in taking your partnership to the top of your game
Grooming Your Boykin Spaniel
Grooming Tips Provided by Simply Fur Grooming in Mocksville, NC
My name is Cady and I've been grooming for 11 years now, 7 of those at my at my shop I co-own with my sister Brianna. I graduated from NC State with an animal science -business degree and I met a Boykin spaniel puppy during my grooming training as my almost husband and I were researching hunting breeds. Needless to say I fell in love and now own 2 myself and my sister fell in love with my first and had to have one also. I love my job and enjoy working with many breeds but Boykins have my heart.
The summer is always a challenge for hunting dogs. An alternative hair style can help keep the Boykin Spaniel cooler and also help prevent bacterial skin infections. We do "haircuts" on many Boykin's that hunt or swim in the summer months. A shorter coat will keep them cooler by allowing the air flow to the skin. It also allows them to dry more quickly after swimming. This is not only helpful for the seats in your car but also keeps bacteria from growing on moist, wet skin that has no air flow to it. With the humidity levels we have in the South, a full coated wet dog can take hours to dry completely to the skin. This allows the bacteria from the pond or mud puddles to grow in a perfect environment. This in turn can cause a skin infection and hot spots. Skin infections cause dogs to scratch. Scratching causes broken skin which can then turn into a staph infection. We have found that dogs prone to skin infections do much better with a shorter coat.
For a practical field cut I would groom the body only, leaving the head and ears intact or if preferred a guard comb can be used to lessen the thickness of the ears and then trim them to the leather. I also trim or clip the hair from the underside of the ear canal to help airflow to the ear. I prefer to use a #4 or #5 blade on the body, blending the back of the head so that it connects the head and neck rather than an abrupt stop. I typically use the same blade on the entire body and hind legs/tail for a field cut and then trim all fringe off the front legs. For a more in between trim without a complete field cut for pets who are active in the summer but not in fields I like to use a guard comb cut. These can range from 3⁄8” to 1” of coat left and can be used on just the body, the body and legs, or the entire dog including ears. A consultation with your groomer of choice to discuss the look you like and your plans during the months following can result in the perfect cut for you and your dog. Boykins have a range of coats with some being much easier maintenance and some being softer and more difficult to manage.
If you are going to work your Boykin in dove fields or on upland game then a clip is recommended to keep the briar damage to a minimum. The softer coated Boykins fur acts like Velcro for cockleburs, foxtails and sandspurs as well as blackberry brambles that wreak havoc on your Boykins' coat as well as your fingers when you tried to pry them loose. Of course, the best time to clip your Boykin in a field cut is in the late spring or early summer as they will need their coat If hunting or outside dogs during the winter months.
Whether you clip or don't clip, brush your Boykin's coat once a week to keep the shedding down to a minimum and keep their longer areas mat free. It's recommended not to bathe your dog more often than once a month and then to only use quality pet shampoos and more importantly, conditioner to replenish moisture and keep them from drying out. NEVER use dishwashing detergent as it will dry out your dogs' skin. The ONLY time I use Dawn dish liquid is in the skunk bath recipe using Dawn, baking soda, and peroxide immediately after a dog has been sprayed (careful to avoid eyes) and before any water has been put on the dog as water will set in the skunk smell for months. While you are grooming, check the inside of your pups' ears. Some spaniels have chronic ear problems and a once weekly application of a quality flushing ear solution will help keep the ears dry and clean. Proper ear care on dogs that swim or hunt in tall wet grass is very important. Heavy eared dogs, mainly the spaniel breeds, tend to have chronic ear infections. The two main causes are internal (nutrition) and external (ear care and maintenance).
To maintain the ear externally, it is recommended that you keep the hair on the underside of the ear clipped to allow air flow which keeps the ear canal dry and cool. This can be done with scissors or clippers. Simply flip the ear back over the dog's head, cut any excess hair that is on the bottom of the ear canal opening to expose the opening completely. You can also clip away any excess hair that is on the underside of the ear leather to allow more air flow. This is not seen from the outside and therefore keeps the natural look to the ears and head. Secondly, it is recommended that you clean the ears after swimming or any exposure to water to dry out excess water from the ear canal. To do so, use a flushable ear cleaner and pour directly into the ear canal. Then massage the base of the ear for several seconds and allow them to shake. Finish by wiping clean with a cotton round-this helps bring deep debris to the surface where it can be wiped out easily. Look for ear cleaners that contain drying agents and antibacterial such as low amounts Tea Tree oil. Never use straight Tea Tree oil in a dog's ear. You can also ask your veterinarian for an ear wash that will balance the PH in the ear for those that are very prone to ear infections or yeast. Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to medication or ear wash they have prescribed.
Whether you clip or don't clip, start grooming habits as a puppy - messing with his feet, making him sit or stand still - and your pup will look forward to being groomed (making your job not only easier, but enjoyable for both of you.) A dog’s success always starts with the owner making good habits a priority early on whether it be grooming, training, or socialization.
Cady Lee & Brianna Brown
Simply Fur Grooming LLC
Grooming Tips
I know many folks in the Boykin community are opposed to any professional grooming for Boykins but I know more often than not most do end up getting groomed either regularly or at least a couple times a year due to many different reasons. If you are the type to like your dogs kept clean and well maintained and aren’t willing or able to keep it up at home I urge you to find a good groomer from an early age as it can make the best impact for you and your dog. When started young it can be just as impactful as early training habits and they learn what is going to happen and that it is forever part of their life. I love working with young dogs but of course Boykins hold that special place in my heart and there’s nothing quite like getting to see their little, er, BIG personalities blossom. A lot of my regulars become like family and I love watching them grow and also grieve their losses right alongside their owners. Pictured is our newest Boykin client puppy Izzy receiving her first spa day.
I have been seeing tons of allergies coming through my shop and when consulting my personal vet, we are not alone in this. I’m no expert in dealing with allergies as there are many different causes and it’s impossible to treat them from an occasional visit to the groomer but there are products that can at least help manage external symptoms. First ask your groomer to use something soothing and low scent so as not to add to any existing problems. My current go to is a shampoo and conditioner set by Melanie Newman called Soothe. Always follow up with conditioner to ensure the skin and coat is nicely moisturized so that dry skin doesn’t occur. For dogs with environmental allergies regular baths may be a necessity during flare up season and can definitely help along with consulting your vet.
If you are having trouble with either shedding or dry skin on your dog it’s important to keep them moisturized. If you are bathing regularly, or even if not, using a conditioner can really help replace the moisture that cold air and shampoo is taking away. Silk n finish is also my go to favorite leave in conditioner that will keep them smelling fresh as well. Use a rubber curry brush like you can find at a local tractor supply or pet store to massage it in and it will help get out any loose coat and reduce shedding in your home.
For some Boykins, the swimming season never ends but for others it is here now, and I am seeing a lot of dogs come through with ear infections, so I'll share my best advice to keep your dogs out of the vet office with frequent ear infections. I always recommend keeping a good ear flush on hand with any dog as they can find ways even without a body of water to get dirty ears. I personally have Zymox and Miracle Care Ear Cleaner on hand at all times and flush the ears at least once every couple weeks, after any bath or swim and follow up within a week of any bath or swim to be on the safe side. If there is access to swimming on a daily basis, for example when we go to the beach and have a private pool- our dogs get their ears cleaned twice a day to keep them clean and balanced. Ear infections just as with people are very painful for dogs and some will hide the pain well until it is severe, so this remains a top priority in my house, and I check ears frequently for any redness, debris, or odor. For thick ears you can also shave around the outside of the ear canal and even the underside of the ear flap.
Sanitary clipping, especially for older dogs, can be very beneficial for keeping them clean in an area that can mat and smell easily. The sanitary area is a delicate and sensitive area for most, so I always recommend using a short guard comb in surrounding areas and a #10 blade directly around the penis or vulva for safety. Some dogs are sensitive to very short blades, and if this happens, I will go to a longer length but with extra care and ranging from a #7 blade to a ⅜’ guard, depending on how hairy they are. Most of the time, I find Boykins do not require any shaving around the anus. For hunting dogs, especially intact males, you must be careful not to go too short, as the hair does protect them while running through fields and swamps. Keeping them trimmed and maintained can help with any tricky hitchhikers, but going too short can result in scratches, lacerations, and bruises. I used a short guard comb attachment on my #30 blade to lightly skim off hair but leave enough for protection on my intact male, as I learned the hard way how much having some hair there helped.
Boykins like other spaniels can grow some pretty thick foot hair so it can be very helpful to keep that trimmed on bottom and top. I start by using a #30 blade (a #10 blade can be used more safely for those who are new to this or uncomfortable) to scoop out the hair from between the paw pads, being careful not to scoop too deeply. Of course this is something your groomer will do for you if you have one. Next I brush the hair from between the toes back towards the leg and then scissor it off to give you a nice neat foot that makes keeping the nails filed much easier as well as bring in less things from outside and keep burrs and rocks from getting stuck in pads of their feet. It also helps to be able to see any issues with their feet and address any issues. It is such a quick and easy thing with many benefits for you and your dog.
Image courtesy of: https://www.lakesidevets.com/patient-resources/instructions-and-tutorials/nail-trimming
While it is common amongst Boykins and many other pure bred dogs, it is still common to see many with their dew claws still intact. Keeping this trimmed appropriately can be awkward but necessary since these aren’t weight bearing nails they often are longer and sharper than regular toe nails on dogs and while uncommon for the larger breeds, on smaller breeds I am often having to clip curled dew claws where they’ve gone so long they have grown into the dogs paw pads–ouch! The image demonstrates extremely well where and how to clip a nail which goes for any nail. Having sharp dew claws can be a hazard especially in hunting dogs where they can get hung on things in the field. A ripped nail can cause a large mess and a fair amount of pain so make sure and stay on top of those nail trims if they aren’t wearing them down naturally for a happy healthy pet. Black nails can be really scary for Boykin owners to deal with since you can’t see where where the kwik is so I’ve attached another image to show what you want to see from the end of the nail–and as always, I recommend learning to use a dremel tool so that you can take small amounts at a time, you risk less bleeding this way because your taking a small amount at a time and it almost cauterizes it. Go slow and make it a positive experience!
