Cretan Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Cretan Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed ComparisonCretan Hound is originated from Greece but Boykin Spaniel is originated from United States. Cretan Hound may grow 22 cm / 9 inches higher than Boykin Spaniel. Cretan Hound may weigh 12 kg / 27 pounds more than Boykin Spaniel. Both Cretan Hound and Boykin Spaniel has almost same life span. Both Cretan Hound and Boykin Spaniel has same litter size. Both Cretan Hound and Boykin Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.

History

cretan hound - historyAlthough the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

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.

Description

cretan hound puppy - descriptionKnown for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

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.

Characteristics

cretan hound dog - characteristicsThe Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

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.

Health Problems

cretan hound puppies - health problemsThe Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

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.

Caring The Pet

cretan hound dogs - caringYou’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Gun dog
Origin:
Greece
United States
Height Male:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
39 - 46 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
36 - 44 cm
14 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
5 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Kritikos Lagonikos, Kressa Kyon, Ntopio
Swamp Poodle, Little Brown Dog
Colors Available:
grey, Fawn, sandy, tri-colored , white, black or brindle
Chocolate Brown, Liver
Coat:
Short and smooth
Medium length, wavy or curly
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social
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. Pharaoh Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  32. English Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Canario vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  34. Dunker vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  36. Podenco Andaluz vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  37. Podenco Galego vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  38. English Foxhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  39. Estonian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Griffon Vendeen vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  41. Hamiltonstovare vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  42. Kanni vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  43. Lithuanian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hungarian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  45. Hygenhund vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  46. Norrbottenspets vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  47. Cretan Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  48. Cretan Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  49. Cretan Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  50. Cretan Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds