French Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison

French Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed ComparisonFrench Spaniel is originated from France but Boykin Spaniel is originated from United States. French Spaniel may grow 17 cm / 7 inches higher than Boykin Spaniel. Both French Spaniel and Boykin Spaniel are having almost same weight. French Spaniel may live 4 years less than Boykin Spaniel. French Spaniel may have more litter size than Boykin Spaniel. Both French Spaniel and Boykin Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.

History

french spaniel - historyDeveloped in France and then in Canada, the French Spaniel is a descendent of 14th century hunting dogs. Originally the breed was very popular with the French royalty and nobility at the Court of Versailles, in the Middle Ages. A French Spaniel named Babe was owned by Catherine I of Russia.

Spaniels were mentioned in Gaston III of Foix-Beams’ The Master of the Game, or Livre de Chasse, in 14th Century France. Most believed that Spaniels had been developed during the 11th century Crusades. By 1650 the French Spaniel was differentiated from the King Charles Spaniel and determined to be its own type of spaniel.

In 1805, they were featured in the Sporting Magazine, hunting mallards. The French Spaniel was crossed with English Setters in the !850’s to develop the French Brittany (Spaniel). But by the end of the 19th century, hunting dogs from other countries were outpacing the French Spaniel so much that it was driven to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, a priest named Father Fournier saved the breed by taking all remaining Spaniels to his kennels at St. Hillarie and developing the lines we see in the breed today. This was followed by the founding of the French Spaniel Club in 1921. The various lines of the Spaniels included the French Spaniel of today, the Brittany of today, the Blue Picardy and the Picardy.

The French Spaniel however has been rare outside of its native country and Canada, where it was imported in the 1970’s to French speaking Quebec. Quebec Canadians fell in love with the breed for hunting grouse and woodcock. In order to ensure that the breed would be continued in line with its French standards, the Club de l’Epagneul Francais du Canada began in 1978. By 1985 the Canadian Kennel Club recognized the French Spaniel. Soon after they were recognized by the United Kennel Club, the Federation Cynoloqique Internationale, the UK Kennel Club and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, but not the AKC (American Kennel Club). They are also registered with organizations such as the American Canine Association, the Dog Registry of America and the America’s Pet Registry. They have been included in the AKC Foundation Stock Service as the first step toward AKC recognition.

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

french spaniel puppy - descriptionThe French Spaniel is a very tall dog and as such is one of the spaniel breeds two tallest. They are taller than the English Springer Spaniel, have a deep chest and a muscular build. Their legs are very strong, and they have a thick tail that is never docked. It is long, slightly curved and hangs low. He is an elegant dog with dark amber eyes, long feathery ears, and a nose the color of the coat. If the coat is brown the nose is brown. If the coat is black and white the nose is black. Most French Spaniels are white with brown or dark liver or white with black.

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

Children friendliness

french spaniel dog - characteristicsYes, they are very good with children.

Special talents

They are great in filed trials as they can flush, point and retrieve.

Adaptability

The breed is very adaptable and can live in the city or in the country.

Learning ability

The breed is very intelligent and trainable.

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

french spaniel puppies - health problemsThe French Spaniel is a healthy breed that adapts well to all types of conditions, especially wet ones. There are some potentially serious health issues that the breed may be susceptible to:

Acral Mutilation and Analgesia

This is a very serious inherited disorder. It is one of many Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathies (HSN) disorders. This is an agonizing infliction that causes the dogs to have no pain in certain extremities and therefore the ability to self-mutilate their feet, pads, claws and digits. They lick and bite their feet often amputating footpads, claws, and digits without feeling any pain. This leads to infection and most dogs end up being euthanized. The disorder shows up by 3-4 months of age.

Ear Infections

Make sure the dog’s ears are cleaned regularly to remove wax and prevent infections.

Epilepsy

This disease causes seizures but can be treated with medication.

Hip dysplasia

Can cause lameness and arthritis.

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

Feed the puppy

french spaniel dogs - caringA high quality dry food made for puppies and if possible for Spaniels. Feed two to three times a day about one fourth of a cup each time

Feed the adult

A high quality adult dry food made for Spaniels if possible. Feed twice a day about one half to three fourths of a cup at each meal.

Points for Good Health

Excellent vision, stamina and speed.

Games and Exercises

These dog love to run and play. They are smart and learn easily. They like to chase balls, swim, play hide and seek, Find It, and go hiking. They can excel at learning tricks, agility, rally and obedience trials.

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:
Sporting dog
Gun dog
Origin:
France
United States
Height Male:
56 - 63 cm
22 - 25 inches
39 - 46 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
36 - 44 cm
14 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
10 - 22 kg
22 - 49 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
8 - 20 kg
17 - 45 pounds
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
5 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Epagneul Français French Setter Canadian Setter
Swamp Poodle, Little Brown Dog
Colors Available:
White with brown markings
Chocolate Brown, Liver
Coat:
Straight, or slightly wavy and of medium length.
Medium length, wavy or curly
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, 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. French Spaniel vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  2. French Spaniel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. French Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. French Spaniel vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  5. French Spaniel vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  6. French Spaniel vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  7. French Spaniel vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  8. French Spaniel vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. French Spaniel vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. French Spaniel vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  11. French Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  12. French Spaniel vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. French Spaniel vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  14. French Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  15. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  16. Lagotto Romagnolo vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  17. Shikoku vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Slovakian Hound vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  19. Small Munsterlander vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. Sussex Spaniel vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  21. Kooikerhondje vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  23. West Siberian Laika vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. Wetterhoun vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. English Springer Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  27. Brittany vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. English Setter vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  29. French Brittany vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  30. Boykin Spaniel vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  31. Boykin Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  32. Boykin Spaniel vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  33. Boykin Spaniel vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Pudelpointer vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Picardy Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  36. Braque d'Auvergne vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Ariege Pointer vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  38. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Water Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  40. Canadian Pointer vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  41. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  42. Clumber Spaniel vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Stabyhoun vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  44. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  45. Vizsla vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  46. Large Munsterlander vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  47. Tyrolean Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  48. Cockalier vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  49. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  50. Cesky Fousek vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds