How to groom a Boykin Spaniel at Home
How to groom a Boykin Spaniel at Home (A Complete Guide)
"Are you a pet enthusiast who wants to own a Boykin Spaniel? Don't worry; I'll tell you how to take care of your Boykin. Boykin Spaniels belong to the hunting breed of dogs. According to statistics and researchers, this breed was first discovered in the 1910s in South Carolina, and they were originally used for hunting ducks and turkeys. Boykin Spaniel has become the "State Dog Of South Carolina" because of its distinct hunting skills. According to statistics, 90% of people used to keep them for security and hunting purposes during the 1900s due to their hunting techniques. To this day, around 20% of Boykin owners keep them for the security of livestock, homes, or land. As a veterinarian, we often come across this breed at our clinics for grooming because they easily get dirty and can often injure themselves while hunting.
Understanding the Breed from a Veterinary Perspective
This breed is most prone to inherited diseases and is subjected to DNA testing for any possible disease outcomes. They have very distinct spaniel coats on their bodies. Their color can vary from dark liver to dark brown and usually consists of only an outer body coat. The inner body coat is also present in some genetically modified Boykins.
Veterinarian View of Grooming a Boykin Spaniel
Small body hairs and single-body coats make grooming very easy for this breed. They don't require much grooming. Brushing and bathing once a month are enough for your Boykin Spaniel. They don't require hair trimming often, only once in a while.
Grooming Steps and Their Frequencies
Grooming covers all parts of the dog's body, and each part has different grooming requirements. Grooming for different parts of the dog's body and their frequencies are listed below.
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No
Steps
Frequencies
Bathing
Once every month
Brushing
Once every month
Hair Trimming
once every 2 or 3 months
Tooth Brushing
Weekly
Ear Drops
Weekly
Eye washing
Daily/weekly
Nail Trimming
Once every month
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Tools Required for Grooming
Here is a list of tools used during the grooming of a Boykin Spaniel.
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Slicker Brush
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Pin Brush
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Comb
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Scissors
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Nail Clippers
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Blow-dryer
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Grooming Table
Don't skimp on the quality of these instruments because it directly impacts grooming quality.
Grooming a Boykin Spaniel
Boykin Spaniels can be groomed at home if you have the proper skills and techniques. But if you are not familiar with the breed, make sure to go to a groomer or visit a nearby veterinarian. Grooming a Boykin Spaniel is very easy, and you can also groom your dog at home by following these steps. Follow-up is very easy.
1. BRUSHING: Brush your dog gently with a slicker brush from head to tail. This will remove mats and tangles from the body coat, which otherwise would harden due to bathing.
2. COMBING: Comb your dog's coat to remove dead hairs, debris, and any mats or tangles.
3. BATHING: After combing, take your dog to the bathing tub. Make sure the water is lukewarm and place your dog in it. Gently bathe your dog with water from the head to the tail. Put shampoo on your dog's back and gently start rubbing until foam has reached the whole body. Rinse all the foam with water until the water runs clear through the coat; otherwise, the shampoo may cause dermatitis, skin allergies, and other infections.
4. DRYING: Dry your dog afterward with a towel first and then use a blow dryer to dry thoroughly. Certain areas of the Boykin’s body that need to be dried are legs, feet, belly hair, and private parts.
Ear Cleaning with Drops
Put ear drops recommended by a veterinarian after bathing and drying. Make sure that the drops stay in the ear for a while, and afterward, clean the ear with a cotton swab.
Dental Care in Boykin Spaniel
As recommended for every breed of dog, the teeth should be brushed once a week. Use a dog brush and toothpaste recommended by a veterinarian and clean them thoroughly.
Trimming Extra Feathers on Foot and Tail
Scissors are used to trim extra feathers that are usually present on the tail and feet. They are the main reason why your Boykin gets dirty. The tail usually gets dirty with feces, and the feet get dirty from walking on the ground. Foot feathering sometimes gets so long that it becomes a hindrance in the walking and running of Boykin.
Eye Cleaning
Clean eye boogers every day with a cotton swab and try to keep them clean.
Nail Trimming
A high-quality nail cutter should be used to trim nails. This is very stressful for dogs and needs to be done quickly and efficiently. Visit a groomer for nail trimming. Nails should be trimmed every week. The best time to trim nails is after bathing because at that time, the nails are very soft.
FAQs
Q. Is Boykin Spaniel a family dog?
Yes, they make great family dogs. They are very interactive and love attention.
Q. How much does a Boykin Spaniel cost?
Boykin Spaniels cost around $1000, and grooming costs around $100 every month.
Q. What is the dental care routine for Boykin Spaniel?
Boykin Spaniel needs tooth brushing every week and toothbrush and paste for brushing should be recommended by a veterinarian.
Q. Does Boykin Spaniel need trimming?
This specific breed needs body coat trimming every 6 months. Trimming is not performed for looks and beauty but rather for the health and agility of this breed.
Q. Can I groom my Boykin Spaniel at home?
Grooming a Boykin is very easy and can be done at home, but it requires some skills and techniques. If you have never groomed your dog before, visit a groomer or veterinarian and learn from them.
Q. Can I use human shampoo on my dog?
No, you can't use human shampoo on your dog because of the different pH levels. Human and dog shampoos have different compositions and pH levels. Using human shampoo on the dog will cause a lot of skin problems, including redness and allergies."
