Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix

The Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Boykin Spaniel and the Briard. Both of these dogs can be friendly but personalities differ, so you never know. The Boykin Spaniel is known for being friendly, energetic, and intelligent. All dogs need proper socialization and that will be a big factor in how they interact with others. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the Boykin Spaniel or the Briard? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix.

While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix puppies for sale.

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Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix History

All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.

Boykin Spaniel History

The Boykin has been honored as the State Dog of South Carolina, where she is famous for doing what spaniels do -- hunting turkeys and ducks, a task she still pursues in the company of bird hunters. (If one honorific was not enough, September 1 has been declared Boykin Spaniel Day in South Carolina.) The Boykin is a retriever and upland hunter rather than a pointer. She drives her prey into flight, then retrieves it for her handler. She is a versatile hunter who can move beyond ducks and turkeys to participate in dove and pheasant hunting, and she can travel with her handler by canoe. The Boykin was developed in the early 20th century to hunt turkeys, duck and other waterfowl, as well as upland game like pheasants and doves. He was nicknamed “the little brown dog” for his dark coat and “the dog that doesn’t rock the boat” because he can ride calmly and easily in a canoe.

The Boykin has a delightful origin story. In the early 1900s a pair of hunters adopted a stray dog they called Dumpy. When the dog began to show talent for retrieving, Whit Boykin took over his primary care and training, and he also crossbred Dumpy with other breeds until he had produced an impressive game and fowl retriever who would later be given his name. Dumpy may have been crossbred over the years with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Springer Spaniel, American Water Spaniel, and Cocker Spaniel until Boykin had produced a dog his was satisfied with, and he became the foundation for the Boykin Spaniel. The AKC recognized the breed in 2009.

Briard History

The fluffy Briard is another native of France. Historians report that Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson, and Lafayette all kept Briards at some point in their lives. The dog is thought to date from the 8th century. She survived the French Revolution and subsequent redistribution of land, living the exhausting yet peaceful life of a sheepdog. The Paris dog show of 1863 was her coming-out party, and there was much public interest in the Briard thereafter. It is believed that the Beauceron and the Barbet were bred in the 1800s to produce the Briard and standardize her appearance.

As shepherds, Briards were a fine choice for the farms of early France. They could work the field rounding up sheep during the day and guard the family by night.

The original (French) breed standard was written in 1897, and the first breed club was organized in 1909, only to disband after World War I broke out; as happened with many breeds, the Briard faced near-extinction after the war. France called on its Briards for military duties, and they answered, performing such tasks as helping to carry wounded soldiers, food, supplies and munitions. It is thought that the Briard’s eagerness to please made her work longer and harder than other canines. When the war ended, the number of Briards in the world had sharply dropped.

The French formed the breed club in 1923 and set about the business of restoring the breed. They rewrote the breed standard, and it has remained unchanged for all these years except for a minor modification in 1975. The Briard Club of America adopted this same standard in 1928.

Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix Size and Weight

Boykin Spaniel
Height: 14 - 17 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 25 - 40 lb.
Lifespan: 14 - 16 years

Briard
Height: 22 - 27 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 70 - 90 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 12 years

Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix Personality

The Boykin Spaniel and the Briard are both loyal and affectionate. They are also very charming, so watch out! This dog will require a good training regimen as they can get excited. They are very loyal to their family. One of the best things you can do for any breed is to socialize it as much as possible. Please use positive reinforcement, it goes a long way! She should be rather affectionate and love being with you, she can also be stubborn so keep that in mind.

Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix Health

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. We obviously recommend that you look for a reputable animal rescue in your area to find your new mixed breed. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.

The Boykin Spaniel mixed with the Briard might be prone to joint dysplasia, eye problems, patellar luxation, skin problems, among others.

Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.

Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix Care

What are the grooming requirements?

Even if you know the breed, sometimes it is hard to tell if it will be a heavy shedder or a light shedder. Either way, Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.

What are the exercise requirements?

Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This mix will more than likely have a high energy level. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.

What are the training requirements?

This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.

Boykin Spaniel Briard Mix Feeding

"A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.

Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.

I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background."

Boykin Spaniel Links

Links to other breeds you might be interested in