Several Boykin owners ask how to clip or
groom their dogs. There is no one set way as it comes down to pesonal
 preference. Some owners like to clip their dogs all the
way down, all over so that the dog looks smooth coated. Others prefer to leave
the feathers on the legs, ears and belly. Still others just like to brush the
coats and leave them natural.
If you clip your Boykin short all over,
use a #7 blade and only run the blade with the grain of the hair, not against
it. That way you get a nice even clip without any choppy areas. The top of the
head and the feet can be trimmed with ah #10 blade to get a cleaner look.
Carefully trim around the ears with scissors. Put your fingers between the
scissors and the ear leather to prevent accidents.
If you are going to work your Boykin in dove fields
or on upland game then a clip is recommended to keep the briar damage to a
minimum. The soft coat of the Boykin acts like velcro to cockleburrs, foxtails
and sandspurs as well as blackberry brambles that wreak havoc on your Boykins'
coat as well as your fingers when you tried to pry them loose. A coating of
cooking spray, like PAM, sprayed before you go into the field will help ease
the combing out if you leave the coat intact.
If you decide to clip
your Boykin but want to keep some of the feathers then most clip them like a
Springer spaniel. The top of the head, the sides and down the back of the neck,
down the back and the sides, the fronts of the legs and the top of the tail are
clipped using a #7 or #10 blade. The underside and the base of the ears are
clipped to reduce matting. The armpits and inside flanks are clipped as well.
The feet and between the toes are clipped using a #10 blade. Male dogs often
need to have the hair trimmed around their testicles to reduce matting. What is
left is the feathers on the ears, the backs of the legs, the chest and the
belly. If your Boykin has a short tail then clip it all over. If your pup has a
longer tail then you can leave the feathers on the underside of the tail.
The main advantage to clipping your Boykin at
least once a year is that you can see any blemishes on the skin, possibly dry,
flaky conditions, and correct any problems with fleas and ticks that could be
hidden in a heavy coat. If you find your dog has dry, flaky skin consider
changing his diet and/or adding a teaspoon of vegetable oil to his food each
day.
Of course, the best time to clip your Boykin is in the late spring
or early summer. Don't clip all of your pups' coat off late in the fall if he
is going to spend the winter outside.
Whether you clip or don't clip,
brush your Boykin's coat once a week to keep the shedding down to a minimum.
It's recommended not to bathe your dog more often than once a month and then to
only use pet shampoos. Never use dishwashing detergent as it will dry out your
dogs' skin.
Keep your Boykins' nails trimmed as well. A battery
operated Dremel-type tool with a sanding bit works wonders to grind down the
sharp edges and keep the nails short without cutting to the quick. If you trim
your pups' nails with toenail clippers, make sure you have some 'quik-stop'
handy in case you cut too short.
While you are grooming, check the
inside of your pups' ears. Some spaniels have chronic ear problems and a once
weekly application of a veterinary-recommended ear solution will help keep the
ears dry and clean.
Whether you clip or don't clip, start grooming
habits as a puppy - messing with his feet, making him sit or stand still - and
your pup will look forward to being groomed (making your job not only easier,
but enjoyable for both of you.) Happy grooming. |
