MyDogBreeds
Both Native American Indian Dog and Boykin Spaniel are originated from United States. Native American Indian Dog may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Boykin Spaniel. Native American Indian Dog may weigh 102 kg / 225 pounds more than Boykin Spaniel. Native American Indian Dog may live 3 years more than Boykin Spaniel. Native American Indian Dog may have more litter size than Boykin Spaniel. Native American Indian Dog requires High maintenance. But Boykin Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance
The Native American Indian Dog is an ancient breed, that some consider to be feral. It is a landrace breed that developed with the indigenous peoples North America. These dogs originally looked and sounded like wolves and it is likely that their ancestry is tied to wolves crossed with pre-Columbian American dogs that came to the America’s with the first peoples. There are some that believe the Native American Indian Dog is a connecting line back to the dogs or wolves that over 12,000 years ago were the first to be domesticated by human beings.
They are now a rare breed in the wild and a small group of domesticated dogs. Fossil studies in recent years suggests that the Native American Indian Dogs came to North America about 4500 years after the first indigenous peoples. It is believed that the Native Americans bred the dogs that traders and explorers brought with them to the native coyote as well. This created a breed specific to North America and called the Common Native Dog or the Common Indian Dog. The original NAID was a mix of many different breeds of dogs and wild canines.
Today’s NAID is said to be raised on Indian reservations in the United State and represent a mix of Chinook, Husky, German Shepherd Dog and Malamute, along with perhaps some of today’s wolf mixed in. This dog is raised domestically and is socialized to life with humans. They are the last remaining breed from all the Native North American dogs that lived with the original people of the Americas. They are also thought to have an ancestry similar to the Australian Dingo.
They are a devoted, protective and loyal breed though they tend to be shy. They need to be outside for the majority of the day and don’t do well in crates. They need a fenced yard and room to roam. They are working dogs that hunted, pulled sleds and guarded their homes. They still need a job to so.
Today the North American Indian Dog is being bred to replicate the temperament and appearance of the originals. Although there are many breeders working from the founding breeder with original stock, there are only six that are officially given authorization to breed the NAID. They are registered by Terra Pines with the National Kennel Club but not recognized by the AKC and UKC.
The breed name NAID is trademarked by Karen Markel of Majestic View Kennels in the 1990’s. Today the breed is nationally recognized as a breed very much like the original Native American dogs, The breed is intelligent and quite healthy. They enjoy people and engage in many companion activities.
Whatever its true ancestry the current Native American Indian Dog (NAID), today’s version is not recognized by the AKC, but they are recognized by the Dog Registry of America, the Native American Indian Dog Registry and the National Kennel Club.
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.
There are two sizes of the North American Indian Dog – they are medium and large. They have dense short double coats, or they have long top coats and a fairly dense undercoat. They come in a variety of colors mostly black or silver but there is also a tortoiseshell. These tortoiseshell colored dogs are considered by Native Americans to be sacred beings. These tortoiseshell dogs are strikingly good looking and are called Spirit Dog.
They all have the look of a Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute with upright ears and almond shaped eyes that are anywhere from amber to brown with some blue. Usually their tails are down and long but can be curled. They resemble the wolf and have that wild, feral appearance. They can be as large as over one hundred pounds or average seventy to eighty pounds. They are strong, alert and intelligent. They are considered to be hypoallergenic, shedding their coat only once a year.
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.
This breed is gentle and loving with children.
Endurance, strength and good health.
Low adaptability to small living spaces and lack of outside space; don’t do well in crates and need an experienced dog owner.
They are highly intelligent, love to learn and are just a little stubborn.
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 fairly healthy, long lived breed having spent so much of its history in isolation. They are prone to some of the issues that affect all medium to large breeds.
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 of their propensity to grow to quickly the puppy should only stay on puppy food for 8-10 months. Feed them a high quality large dog puppy food 3-4 times daily for a total of 2-21/2 cups per day.
Feed a high protein, large dog dry food twice a day for a total of two cups. Do not over feed. Do not feed right before or after exercise do to the risk of bloat.
Healthy, strong long lived dog.
This is not an indoor, couch potato dog. They need exercise and they need space. They won’t do well as apartment dogs unless you can take them to a dog park for over an hour every day. They really need a large fenced in yard. They don’t do well in crates either. He doesn’t understand crates and thinks you are punishing him. They make great hunters, search and rescue dogs, service dogs and therapy dogs. They will succeed at pulling competitions and weight competitions.
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.