Boykin Spaniel vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Boykin Spaniel vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBoykin Spaniel is originated from United States but Belgian Shepherd is originated from Belgium. Boykin Spaniel may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than Belgian Shepherd. Boykin Spaniel may weigh 12 kg / 26 pounds lesser than Belgian Shepherd. Both Boykin Spaniel and Belgian Shepherd has almost same life span. Boykin Spaniel may have less litter size than Belgian Shepherd. Both Boykin Spaniel and Belgian Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.

History

boykin spaniel - historyThe Boykin Spaniel was originally bred by South Carolina hunters as the perfect dog for hunting wild bird during the early 1900s. Alexander White of Spartanburg found a short, well built dog and named him Dumpy. The dog was given to a certain L. Whitaker Boykin and a similar dog in looks was found and mated with Dumpy on Boykin’s Pine Grove plantation. Whitaker Boykin was particularly looking for a special kind of hunting dog breed that could wade into swamplands and into water.

Boykin’s spaniels were popular in South Carolina before World War II and later, in 1977, the Boykin Spaniel Society was founded to ensure the breeding standards of the dog. In 1985, the Boykin Spaniel was declared the state dog of South Carolina and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2009.

belgian shepherd - historyThere are different varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog – but these all differ only in color, length and texture of coat. The interesting aspect of the names of the different Belgian Shepherds, is that the names of the different varieties are taken from the individual towns in Belguim from which each variety comes from.

This breed dates back to the middle ages, but it was only in 1891 that Professor A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School established standards for the types and actually separated- and distinguishing them. In the UK they are shown as one breed.

Description

The Boykin’s Looks:

boykin spaniel puppy - descriptionYou can’t miss the medium-sized Boykin Spaniel with his magnificent coat in different shades of brown. When he gleams in the sun he looks like chocolate. This type of Spaniel is a bit bigger than the English Cocker Spaniel, but he is heavier, weighing between 13 to 18kg. He has large, floppy feathery ears and the tail has always been docked to give him that distinct look, but now with rules and regulations, the tail is often left so that it is long and feathery. The height of this dog at the withers is 39 to 43cm.

The length of the dog’s coat varies somewhat because of the different breeds from the past. Essentially the coat is medium length and wavy to curly with light feathering around the legs, ears, chest and stomach.

Temperament:

The Boykin Spaniel is social and he makes an excellent family pet. He is good around children and other dogs, and with training and socialization he becomes even more amicable and obedient.

Different Varieties

belgian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Belgian Shepherd is a well proportioned, muscular medium-to-large dog breed. There are the different varieties but they generally stands at 56 – 66cm in height and weighs anything from 25 to 30kg. You get the short haired Malinois and then you also get the Belgian Tervuren and the Groenendal which are fairly long-haired varieties. Their colour shades vary so you can find black with white markings on the chest and feet, you can find light to dark brown and some are even inclined to be brown.

Not Aggressive but a Great Guardian

All the varieties have long tails, pointed, fully erect ears and black noses. While the Belgian Shepherd isn’t an aggressive dog, he makes an excellent guard dog, being alert, highly energetic and intelligent and easy to train. As with most other dogs, you’ll want to see to it that he is trained and socialized because then he makes a super pet suited to life with a family where there are children and other pets. He has an independent nature and is loyal and protective with his human family.

Characteristics

boykin spaniel dog - characteristicsThe Boykin Spaniel is a diverse breed. The characteristics of the dog aren’t set in stone. He is a hunting dogs with boundless energy and enthusiasm. He is an intelligent breed and responds well to training and is obedient to your commands. He is all about fun and excitement and he is guaranteed to make a splendid companion.

Active and social, he is going to need input from his owners in terms of exercise and mental stimulation. He isn’t a dog to just ignore and in exchange for love and care, he is going to be a loving, loyal and fun companion for you.

belgian shepherd dog - characteristicsEnergy is a big factor with this beautiful dog, so before you consider one as a pet, be sure that you can take care of his exercise needs. He belongs to the working group of dogs so he won’t enjoy just lazing around day after day. He is wired to be herding livestock and that natural instinct doesn’t disappear once he becomes a pet in your home. With so much energy, he wants a nice sized garden and wouldn’t do well cooped up indoors at all.

He is a strong, loving dog, and in exchange for your care of him, he will be a loyal, loving, protective friend who will love you to the end.

Health Problems

boykin spaniel puppies - health problemsThe Boykin Spaniel is a healthy breed with a life span of 14 to 16 years. There are some diseases that you want to be aware of with your Boykin Spaniel.

Hip Dysplasia:

Always be aware of Hip Dysplasia as it can reduce your pet’s quality of life.. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the hip joint doesn’t to develop properly and deterioration sets in and your pet can lose function of the joint. You’ll notice your pet battling to stand up after lying down. The frightening this is that some dogs begin to show signs of hip dysplasia as early as 4 months of age.

Most Common Health Problems:

The Boykin Spaniel’s most common health problems apart from hip dysplasia are patellar luxation and juvenile cataracts.

belgian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Shepherd is a hardy dog so if you do your part to provide him with good quality nutrition from the food he eats and you exercise him, he’ll reach the 10-14 years allotted to him. Just like with any dog, there will be some minor concerns that you need to watch out for -

epilepsy, eye problems, cancer, skin allergies and hip dysplasia.

remember to check his teeth and for ticks and parasites as both, if just left, can jeopardise his health seriously.

see that he get his first puppy vaccinations at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

boykin spaniel dogs - caringThe Boykin Spaniel has been a gun dog and because he is energetic, he will need plenty of exercise and activities. Take him for walks or allow him to swim in the farm dam if you live in the country. He isn’t a dog to leave on his own in your backyard as he needs exercise as well as mental stimulation to keep him from becoming frustrated and developing destructive habits.

Grooming:

The Boykin’s hair will need to be brushed as least twice a week to prevent it from matting, particularly if he is a country-living dog, in and out of water and running through long grass. He is not a heavy shedder but his shedding is seasonal. As a long eared dog, he will need to have his ears checked to prevent infection.

Other grooming habits to get used to with your Boykin Spaniel are having his nails trimmed and brushing his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week with special dog toothpaste and brush.

Diet

Boykin Spaniel owners who know the breed well say that there is nothing better than feeding your dog raw meat with vegetables and rice. Of course, not everyone can afford to feed their pets raw meat every day, and that’s alright. Just make sure that every now and then you include raw meat into your pet’s diet.

The very best commercially produced dog foods can also be good for your pet. If in doubt, speak to your veterinarian about the best food for your active, energetic pet. Never, ever deprive your pet of fresh, cool water throughout the day and night.

Exercise

belgian shepherd dogs - caringYour Belgian Shepherd is an energetic dog breed who is social and who wants to be included in your family activities. You can’t just keep him cooped up in your back yard and expect him to do well. He’ll need daily exercise – walks, swims if there is water close by, chasing the ball as well as your companionship.

Grooming and shedding

These dogs are shedders so you’ll certainly be needing to watch your clothes for hairs. You will need to give them a good brush at least twice a week to get rid of all that loose hair and to keep his coat shiny and in tip top condition. Also, he likes the closeness the brushing provides between him and his human caretaker.

Feeding your Belgian Shepherd

The Belgian Shepherd is a robust, healthy breed of dog, but many ill dogs are brought to veterinary clinics because they are suffering with itchy skin problems, they have digestive problems and they’re generally run down. This is because they aren’t provided with a varied and balanced diet plan. Apart from eating a quality dry- or wet dog food as recommended by your vet, he’ll most certainly need some raw meat in his diet too.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
Origin:
United States
Belgium
Height Male:
39 - 46 cm
15 - 19 inches
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
36 - 44 cm
14 - 18 inches
52 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 7
6 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Swamp Poodle, Little Brown Dog
Belgian Sheepdog Chien de Berger Belge
Colors Available:
Chocolate Brown, Liver
depends on variety - black with white, brown
Coat:
Medium length, wavy or curly
short- and long-haired varieties
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Constant, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Springer Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  2. Brittany vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  3. English Setter vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  4. French Brittany vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  5. Boykin Spaniel vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  6. Boykin Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  7. Boykin Spaniel vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  8. Boykin Spaniel vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. Pudelpointer vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  10. Picardy Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  11. Braque d'Auvergne vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  12. Ariege Pointer vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  14. Irish Water Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  15. Canadian Pointer vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  16. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  17. Clumber Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Stabyhoun vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  19. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. Vizsla vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  21. Large Munsterlander vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. Tyrolean Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  23. Cockalier vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  25. Cesky Fousek vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Alaskan Malamute vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Bullmastiff vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. Boerboel vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Presa Canario vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Labrador Husky vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Argentine Dogo vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Giant Schnauzer vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Belgian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  36. Belgian Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  37. Belgian Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  38. Belgian Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  39. Belgian Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Belgian Shepherd vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  42. Belgian Shepherd vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  43. Belgian Shepherd vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  45. Belgian Shepherd vs Antebellum Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  46. Goldador vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Dogo Cubano vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  49. Dogo Sardesco vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Central Asian Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds