MyDogBreeds
Boykin Spaniel is originated from United States but Bernedoodle is originated from Canada. Both Boykin Spaniel and Bernedoodle are having almost same height. Boykin Spaniel may weigh 23 kg / 50 pounds lesser than Bernedoodle. Both Boykin Spaniel and Bernedoodle has almost same life span. Boykin Spaniel may have less litter size than Bernedoodle. Both Boykin Spaniel and Bernedoodle requires Moderate maintenance.
The 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.
The Bernedoodle is a hybrid cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Standard Poodle. They have been around for many, many years but the first official” cross between the two breeds came from Sherry Rupke out of SwissRidge Kennels. The first Bernedoodle were achieved in 2003. She now has an entire breeding program for this hybrid.
A bernedoodle or a first generation is a cross between a purebred a purebred Poodle and a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. This is a 50/50 mix. This mix is a very low shedding dog and though no dog is hypoallergenic, the Bernedoodle is as close as it gets. If the cross is true between two purebred dogs, the new breed will have the calm, sweet demeanor of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the intelligent, goofy, playfulness of the Poodle. At the same time the Bernedoodle is a hybrid so there will not be two exactly alike.
With purebred dogs you get a lot of consistency from one dog to another. Not so with the Bernedoodle. Each one will be a little different. Sometimes a hybrid dog can be healthier than their parents. Other times there can be health issues with hybrid. It is all about the breeder and if they breed for the right health traits.
If the breeder is conscientious enough the pup will have the best characteristics of both original breeds. Therefore, the Bernedoodle is happy, smart, playful, friendly and social. Sometimes the breeding doesn’t go as planned and you can end up with a Bernedoodle with the stubbornness of the Bernese or the hyper activity of the poodle. As a new cross breed, the Bernedoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club because it is a hybrid. They are recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry, The American Canine Hybrid Club, The Designer Dogs Kennel Club.
You 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.
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.
Since the Bernedoodle is a hybrid and not an AKC recognized breed, there is no set-in stone breed standard. There are three sizes of Bernedoodles and at least three generations. All of these should be strong boned dogs with powerful and compact bodies. They have log ears, button eyes and a triangle shaped muzzle. The tail is long and bushy, and the coat is medium to long.
There is no standard color, but the most common color is black and white or tri like the Bernese Mountain Dog. They can also be black and brown, sable or merle. The coat is wavy or curly like the poodle.
The 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.
This is a very social dog that needs to be with people. If you don’t have a lot of time for a dog, then this is not the one for you. He is gentle, calm and affectionate. He is intelligent and sometimes stubborn. They need to be socialized early in life and they will be great with kids and other small animals. They tend to be very playful. Toys and minis have more energy, more stubbornness and more of the poodle divaness.
The 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.
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.
The Boykin Spaniel’s most common health problems apart from hip dysplasia are patellar luxation and juvenile cataracts.
Because the breed is so new and bred pure so far, there is not a lot of information about their health or their life span. Even as they seem to have less issues than their parents – the Bernese cancer issue for example does not seem to plague the Bernedoodle. However, that does not mean they don’t have issues. They are still prone to some serious issues.
Skin issues, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eye issues are prevalent in this new breed. They have a tendency toward hot spots and sometimes allergies. Asks a reputable breeder if they have tested the parents and the puppies for dysplasia and eye issues.
The 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.
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.
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.
Since the Bernedoodle comes in three different sizes, there will be three different feeding regimens. No matter the size of your dog, feed them quality food twice a day. The standard is a big dog and should be fed as such but the toy and mini will eat a lot less. You can pretty much feed a standard Bernedoodle the same thing you feed a Bernese Mountain Dog. The Bernedoodle is a picky eater and you may have to change up their food at times to keep them interested.
Again, these are healthy dogs because the cross breed is so young. There are not a lot of genetic issues. As mentioned previously hip dysplasia, eye issues, elbow dysplasia and skin issues are possible.
This is a calm, not over active dog. They do not share the high energy level of the poodle but rather carry the calm, gentle energy of the Bernese. The toy and mini varieties tend to have a faster motor than the standard. They need daily walks no matter what their size is. They will need your attention regularly.