Irish Terrier vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Irish Terrier vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed ComparisonIrish Terrier is originated from Ireland but Boykin Spaniel is originated from United States. Both Irish Terrier and Boykin Spaniel are having almost same height. Irish Terrier may weigh 6 kg / 13 pounds lesser than Boykin Spaniel. Both Irish Terrier and Boykin Spaniel has almost same life span. Both Irish Terrier and Boykin Spaniel has almost same litter size. Both Irish Terrier and Boykin Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.

History

irish terrier - historyThe Irish Terrier is a dog breed from Ireland and one of the many different terrier breeds there are.

Nobody is too sure of the Irish Terrier's history but it is one of the oldest terrier breeds. It appears as if the dog breed was developed from a wheat colored terrier and the extinct black and tan terrier.

It was always a common practice to crop the ears of terriers, but in 1889 the Irish Terrier Club required that the ears remain uncropped. The first Irish Terrier was shown in 1881, and the first Irish Terrier registered with the American Kennel Club was in 1885. The Irish Terrier Club of America was founded in 1896.

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

irish terrier puppy - descriptionThe Irish Terrier is a medium sized dog who stands between 45cm and 50cm and weighs in the region of 11 to 12kg. He has a short, dense, wiry double coat which is a red, golden, sandy, wheaten color.

The ears of the dog are semi-erect/semi-floppy and the tail is held high and curved.The chest is deep and muscular and the front and back legs are strong, long and muscular.

Temperament:

The Irish Terrier is a companion dog today, even though he was once a guard- and hunting dog. He is an amicable dog while also being alert and active. He is also independent and strong-willed so he will require training and socialization as then he becomes obedient and relaxed and much easier to live with.

They're social dogs too, loving all the members of their human family, getting on well with children in the home.

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

irish terrier dog - characteristicsIrish Terriers are good with people and want to be an active member of their human families.

They are active dogs and will require ongoing mental and physical stimulation. This is a lively dog, but he still loves to spend quiet time indoors with his family.

They’re intelligent dogs with a strong sense of loyalty towards their owner, making excellent family pets.

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

irish terrier puppies - health problemsThe Irish Terrier is a healthy dog breed and you won't find yourself running to the vet often with him, but still he can land up with one of the common dog problems.

It is always wise to be aware of hip dysplasia as this is a disease which can occur in all dog breeds and all dog ages. Also look out for eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts as these can lead to blindness in your pet.

There is a disease known as cystinuria which is quite a concern with Irish Terriers. It’s an inherited kidney disease where increased amounts of arginine, lysine, amino acids cystine and ornithine are excreted in the urine.

In well-functioning kidneys, blood is filtered so as to create urine. Cystine is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream but with dogs affected with cystinuria they cannot reabsorb cystine back in their bloodstream, causing an accumulation in the urine. Dogs with cystinuria suffer inflammation of the urinary tract and can also develop urinary blockage and kidney failure. Immediate veterinary intervention is required.

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

Grooming:

irish terrier dogs - caringThe coat of the Irish Terrier requires a brush twice a week to keep it bright. If you intend showing your dog, the coat will need to be stripped a couple of times a year to maintain the texture and color.

Other Irish Terrier owners take their dog to the groomers to have the coat clipped. The dog doesn't shed a lot and they are referred to as being somewhat hypoallergenic.

As with any other dog breed, other grooming needs with your Irish Terrier will include clipping the nails, checking his teeth for plaque build-up and checking inside the ears for infection.

If you're unsure how to perform these grooming procedures with your pet, simply ask your vet who will explain to you precisely how to ensure your dog remains in tip top condition.

Exercise:

He's a fairly active dog so you want to make sure that you are attending to his exercise needs. Take him for a walk every day, and if you've got a good sized garden, throw a ball for him. If you're a jogger you can count him in.

Diet:

What you feed your Irish Terrier will depend a lot on his age and his activity levels. Every dog is a unique individual and nothing is set in stone regarding their diets. Just like people though, feeding him a lot of junk food will contribute to illness and shorten his lifespan.

He needs quality food. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure to read up on how much to feed him. Try and mix in some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat.

Learn to know what foods are toxic for him. Make sure he has a bowl of fresh, cool water constantly available to him.

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:
Terrier dog
Gun dog
Origin:
Ireland
United States
Height Male:
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
39 - 46 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
36 - 44 cm
14 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 15 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
5 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Irish Red Terrier
Swamp Poodle, Little Brown Dog
Colors Available:
sandy, golden, Red, wheaten
Chocolate Brown, Liver
Coat:
Shortish, wiry, dense
Medium length, wavy or curly
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
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:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schnauzer vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Irish Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Irish Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Irish Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Irish Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Irish Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  9. Irish Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  10. Irish Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Irish Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Irish Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Irish Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Irish Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Irish Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Lakeland Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Jagdterrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Japanese Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Old English Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Scoland Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Skye Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Welsh Terrier vs Irish Terrier - 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