Polish Hound vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison

It is thought that Polish Hounds descended from the Kostroma Hound. Other experts believe that the dogs were developed through crossbreeding of Bloodhounds with local Polish hounds.

The idea was to get a more lighter-boned, more athletic Bloodhound type of dog. In fact, this new standard was adopted in 1983 as the guide for the ideal Polish Hound.

The World Wars caused the numbers of these dogs to be drastically reduced, and attempts were made to revive the breed. The dog is rare outside his native country.

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 Polish Hound is a nice, big, solid looking dog. He stands at between 55–65 cm in height and weighs between 20 to 32kg, both male and female. If you were to try and think of him, you could think of a Labrador/Beagle/Bloodhound mix.

He is a medium to large sized dog. The coat is short to medium in length and is thick and hard with a soft, dense undercoat. The color of the coat is brown and tan and black and tan. The dog’s tail is set low and is thick and long.

Temperament:

This dog is a wonderful dog known to be clever and eager to please. He also has other attractive characteristics such as being energetic, gentle and he has an urge to protect his human family.

He is also loved because he is reliable and gentle around children who know how to treat dogs with respect. Some people who have owed this dog say that there is just one small fault – the dog’s bark – it is deep and mellow – and its why he isn’t suited to life in the city.

He is a rural dog, loving wide open spaces. It is why the dog will be an excellent pet if he is trained and socialized, becoming obedient and well balanced.

The Boykin’s Looks:

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.

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.

As a family pet, the Polish Hound just loves his human family, particularly when they are outdoor, active types. Your Polish Hound just loves spending time with his human family.

This is a wonderful dog as a family pet. More so when he has been trained and socialized. In exchange for the the wonderful companionship this dog offers you, you owe it to him to keep him happy and content.

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.

The Polish Hound has a reputation for good health. That doesn’t mean you can just leave your pet. Good preventative healthcare is still vital if you want to prevent your pet being attacked by fleas, ticks, worms and mosquitoes.

You need to be careful with the Polish Hound because it's a deep chested dog, and these kinds of dogs are more prone to bloat. This is a deadly disease when the stomach twists and gas can’t escape. Untreated, bloat can be a killer. Take immediate action when you see your dog with a swollen stomach, restlessness and drooling.

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.

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.

Exercise:

As a working dog, the Polish Hound is used to being busy and will be relying on you for a good dose of exercise. He loves the chance of a walk or a run and will be happy to run alongside you while you cycle or jog. Don’t forget ball games too.

Grooming:

The thick coat of the dog will need to be brushed twice a week to remove all that loose hairs. He is a moderate shedder so the coat becomes dull if not regularly brushed.

During the brushing session, check your dog over for fleas and ticks, and any odd lumps that weren’t there before. Trim your pets nails if they don’t wear down naturally. This is a floppy eared breed, so you will need to check the inside of his ears for dirt, wax and bacteria.

Pay close attention to your dog’s teeth.Bad teeth can cause a lot of pain but also be very detrimental to your dog’s health.

Diet:

Just like humans, dogs rely on quality food for good health and longevity. There are many good commercially manufactured dog foods, but avoid the ones with low quality ingredients as these can make your dog ill.

Check the ingredients-list carefully so that you can be sure your pet is getting the right balances of vitamins and minerals. Home-made food is also important as it is nutritious and tasty. You can add it into the dry kibble as a treat sometimes. The simpler the better as dogs don’t like spicy, exotic foods.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrot can be chopped up and given to your pet. Also try and include some raw meat as this is beneficial for health. Fresh, cool water must be made constantly available.

Exercise:

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.

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.