Got Puppy?
A Boykin puppy is a wiggly, snuggling bundle of sweet brown joy. Who can resist the delightful promise of love and adoration a puppy offers?
Puppies are irresistible, and we humans are genetically hardwired to respond to that cuteness.
A pup represents a 10 - 15 year commitment of financial, physical and emotional resources. This is why it is so important to make sure you can fulfill this commitment before buying a pup, and that the pup YOU fall in love with is the right one for you and your family.
This page is a step by step guide to help ensure you get every possible advantage toward finding a Boykin pup that is as physically, temperamentally and genetically healthy as possible. After all, don't you deserve the best? Don't hesitate to contact BSCT with any questions. Congratulations on your decision to make your family an LBD family!!
A Boykin puppy is a wiggly, snuggling bundle of sweet brown joy. Who can resist the delightful promise of love and adoration a puppy offers?
Puppies are irresistible, and we humans are genetically hardwired to respond to that cuteness.
A pup represents a 10 - 15 year commitment of financial, physical and emotional resources. This is why it is so important to make sure you can fulfill this commitment before buying a pup, and that the pup YOU fall in love with is the right one for you and your family.
This page is a step by step guide to help ensure you get every possible advantage toward finding a Boykin pup that is as physically, temperamentally and genetically healthy as possible. After all, don't you deserve the best? Don't hesitate to contact BSCT with any questions. Congratulations on your decision to make your family an LBD family!!
THE STEPS TO "HAPPY AND HEALTHY" FOR A LIFETIME
STEP ONE - AM I REALLY READY FOR A PUP?
Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment. Dogs develop deep bonds with you and your family. Any change in ownership can be extremely traumatic. Do you have the ability to provide the daily attention and stimulation a dog needs for the next 15 years? Are you in the military with the possibility of a changed assignment that will not accommodate a dog? Are you planning for changes in your household such as a new baby? What if your pup no longer "fits" with a new baby in the house? To be fair to a dog with feelings and needs this may not be the time to get a pup.
Dogs have the emotional maturity and needs of a small child for life. Just as with a small child, you are the center of their world and completely control the quality of their physical and emotional well being. Caring for, and training a puppy humanely requires emotional intelligence, saint-like patience at times and the willingness to learn enough about dog psychology to be able to put yourself in the pup's place when it is time to train for things like potty habits and good citizenship skills. Puppies need to be properly socialized with people and other dogs or they may become aggressive and/or fearful. Do you have the time and resources to meet this developmental/behavioral need?
Owning a dog is also a considerable financial commitment. The average care for one dog, which includes food, supplies, and basic medical care, averages $500–$1,500 a year. In addition, emergency visits can range from $250 to $5,000 each visit. Training is an essential also. This can range from $100.00 for a six week simple obedience course to $6000.00 for an extended stay with a field trainer and even tens of thousands of dollars to achieve the highest levels of field performance. Unless you already possess ability in positive, research based, humane training techniques, be prepared to pay to learn and work with your pup under the guidance of a professional. Boykins generally need grooming at least every two weeks. Do you have time? If not, factor in the cost of professional grooming. Remember, the purchase price of a pup is the smallest cost over its lifetime.
What Pup Deserves. A puppy is a precious new life with emotions and significant needs. A responsible puppy buyer learns what these needs are and has everything in place to meet them before looking for the right pup. So who IS the right pup? Let's look at Step 2 and find out.
Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment. Dogs develop deep bonds with you and your family. Any change in ownership can be extremely traumatic. Do you have the ability to provide the daily attention and stimulation a dog needs for the next 15 years? Are you in the military with the possibility of a changed assignment that will not accommodate a dog? Are you planning for changes in your household such as a new baby? What if your pup no longer "fits" with a new baby in the house? To be fair to a dog with feelings and needs this may not be the time to get a pup.
Dogs have the emotional maturity and needs of a small child for life. Just as with a small child, you are the center of their world and completely control the quality of their physical and emotional well being. Caring for, and training a puppy humanely requires emotional intelligence, saint-like patience at times and the willingness to learn enough about dog psychology to be able to put yourself in the pup's place when it is time to train for things like potty habits and good citizenship skills. Puppies need to be properly socialized with people and other dogs or they may become aggressive and/or fearful. Do you have the time and resources to meet this developmental/behavioral need?
Owning a dog is also a considerable financial commitment. The average care for one dog, which includes food, supplies, and basic medical care, averages $500–$1,500 a year. In addition, emergency visits can range from $250 to $5,000 each visit. Training is an essential also. This can range from $100.00 for a six week simple obedience course to $6000.00 for an extended stay with a field trainer and even tens of thousands of dollars to achieve the highest levels of field performance. Unless you already possess ability in positive, research based, humane training techniques, be prepared to pay to learn and work with your pup under the guidance of a professional. Boykins generally need grooming at least every two weeks. Do you have time? If not, factor in the cost of professional grooming. Remember, the purchase price of a pup is the smallest cost over its lifetime.
What Pup Deserves. A puppy is a precious new life with emotions and significant needs. A responsible puppy buyer learns what these needs are and has everything in place to meet them before looking for the right pup. So who IS the right pup? Let's look at Step 2 and find out.
STEP TWO - WHO IS THE RIGHT PUP FOR ME?
Each breed of dog and each individual within the breeds have different characteristics. Choosing the right individual from the right breed can make for a great lifetime experience with a best friend and cherished family member. Choosing the wrong pup from the wrong breed can end in heartache and misery for the pup. YOU get to make a choice - the puppy does not. Most people don't think about it this way to begin with, but it is more important for a puppy to find the right partner for life than it is for the person to find the right pup. So, let's look at an example of this "who is right for who" thing from a pup's perspective.
As a puppy -
If I don't get an owner that is as energetic as me and has time to expend that energy together I end up frustrated, bored and lonely. I end up being in trouble a LOT for things I don't understand. Naturally I am going to become anxious, destructive, aggressive or withdrawn. I am miserable and lonely. And there is NOTHING I can do about it. My owner has complete control over my wellbeing.
This example illustrates that the choice you make will always have more of an impact on the puppy than you, so choose wisely!
So, is a Boykin the right pup for you and are you the right owner for a Boykin pup?
Energy Needs Boykins can make wonderful companions in the field and in the home. They are generally a high energy breed as they were developed for a high energy activity - hunting. They do best with families that are active and take the dog along on their activities. Daily exercise is a must for Boykins. Answer a Boykin's prayer and take him/her hunting!
Emotional Needs LBD's have a significant need for companionship. They are very gregarious and the happiest Boykins have strong bonds with their owners based upon frequent, meaningful, caring interaction.
Training and Trainability Boykins have a typical spaniel personality when it comes to training - with a few quirks! As with all spaniels they do best with positive methods underlined with a heavy dose of fair and consistent expectations. The quirk is that they are often described as having a stubborn streak. This is why they require high levels of consistency, fairness and patience in their training along with a positive attitude. Training should begin early! It is extremely important that Boykin puppies develop a positive association with retrieving if you want a retriever. Don't allow your pup to languish for six months and then send them to a trainer expecting miracles. Pups need to "learn how to learn" during important developmental phases early on just as human children do. Fun obedience and training games should begin as a routine as soon as your pup settles in to your home. This prepares pup for more formal training that will be required to have a good citizen for life later. Work with a trainer or get your pup to a trainer beginning as soon as your puppy comes home if you do not know how to train. Overall, Boykins can do high level work of any type, including retrieving, if provided with a proper program where force is offset appropriately with the positive interactions and early training spaniels need to keep their spirits up and excited about their job.
Sociability Boykins who are properly socialized to children, strangers and other dogs generally do very well. They are playful dogs that enjoy interaction. Great care should be taken with any breed with young children. Young children do not have the intellectual capability to interact with a dog that might bite if grabbed, pinched or stepped on and properly socialized dogs can quickly change their minds when unintentionally injured by a young child.
Health The Boykin breed is a comparatively young breed with a small gene pool. There are some significant health issues present in the breed that represent a risk for a potential owner. Hip Dysplasia, Exercise Induced Collapse, Collie Eye Anomaly, Degenerative Myelopathy and Juvenile Cataracts are some of the issues that are present in the gene pool of the breed. The Boykin Spaniel Society has provided an excellent checklist for breeders that lists and explains the genetic concerns in Boykins: http://www.boykinspaniel.org/checklist.php Additional tests you may want ask your breeder about as these disorders have been identified as significant in the breed can be found here at Paw Print Genetics: https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/products/breeds/175/ . Careful choice of breeders is essential to significantly reducing the risk of purchasing a puppy that may break your heart as well as your pocketbook later down the road. The Boykin Spaniel Society's Preferred Breeder Program is a good place to start!
To get more detailed on the Boykin spaniel's special characteristics visit the Boykin Spaniel Profile. To find out how to choose a responsible breeder, let's look at Step 3.
Each breed of dog and each individual within the breeds have different characteristics. Choosing the right individual from the right breed can make for a great lifetime experience with a best friend and cherished family member. Choosing the wrong pup from the wrong breed can end in heartache and misery for the pup. YOU get to make a choice - the puppy does not. Most people don't think about it this way to begin with, but it is more important for a puppy to find the right partner for life than it is for the person to find the right pup. So, let's look at an example of this "who is right for who" thing from a pup's perspective.
As a puppy -
If I don't get an owner that is as energetic as me and has time to expend that energy together I end up frustrated, bored and lonely. I end up being in trouble a LOT for things I don't understand. Naturally I am going to become anxious, destructive, aggressive or withdrawn. I am miserable and lonely. And there is NOTHING I can do about it. My owner has complete control over my wellbeing.
This example illustrates that the choice you make will always have more of an impact on the puppy than you, so choose wisely!
So, is a Boykin the right pup for you and are you the right owner for a Boykin pup?
Energy Needs Boykins can make wonderful companions in the field and in the home. They are generally a high energy breed as they were developed for a high energy activity - hunting. They do best with families that are active and take the dog along on their activities. Daily exercise is a must for Boykins. Answer a Boykin's prayer and take him/her hunting!
Emotional Needs LBD's have a significant need for companionship. They are very gregarious and the happiest Boykins have strong bonds with their owners based upon frequent, meaningful, caring interaction.
Training and Trainability Boykins have a typical spaniel personality when it comes to training - with a few quirks! As with all spaniels they do best with positive methods underlined with a heavy dose of fair and consistent expectations. The quirk is that they are often described as having a stubborn streak. This is why they require high levels of consistency, fairness and patience in their training along with a positive attitude. Training should begin early! It is extremely important that Boykin puppies develop a positive association with retrieving if you want a retriever. Don't allow your pup to languish for six months and then send them to a trainer expecting miracles. Pups need to "learn how to learn" during important developmental phases early on just as human children do. Fun obedience and training games should begin as a routine as soon as your pup settles in to your home. This prepares pup for more formal training that will be required to have a good citizen for life later. Work with a trainer or get your pup to a trainer beginning as soon as your puppy comes home if you do not know how to train. Overall, Boykins can do high level work of any type, including retrieving, if provided with a proper program where force is offset appropriately with the positive interactions and early training spaniels need to keep their spirits up and excited about their job.
Sociability Boykins who are properly socialized to children, strangers and other dogs generally do very well. They are playful dogs that enjoy interaction. Great care should be taken with any breed with young children. Young children do not have the intellectual capability to interact with a dog that might bite if grabbed, pinched or stepped on and properly socialized dogs can quickly change their minds when unintentionally injured by a young child.
Health The Boykin breed is a comparatively young breed with a small gene pool. There are some significant health issues present in the breed that represent a risk for a potential owner. Hip Dysplasia, Exercise Induced Collapse, Collie Eye Anomaly, Degenerative Myelopathy and Juvenile Cataracts are some of the issues that are present in the gene pool of the breed. The Boykin Spaniel Society has provided an excellent checklist for breeders that lists and explains the genetic concerns in Boykins: http://www.boykinspaniel.org/checklist.php Additional tests you may want ask your breeder about as these disorders have been identified as significant in the breed can be found here at Paw Print Genetics: https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/products/breeds/175/ . Careful choice of breeders is essential to significantly reducing the risk of purchasing a puppy that may break your heart as well as your pocketbook later down the road. The Boykin Spaniel Society's Preferred Breeder Program is a good place to start!
To get more detailed on the Boykin spaniel's special characteristics visit the Boykin Spaniel Profile. To find out how to choose a responsible breeder, let's look at Step 3.
STEP THREE - WHO WILL BE MY BREEDER?
When choosing a breeder, there are three main sources of puppies - puppy mills, backyard breeders and professional, responsible breeders.
What Is a Puppy Mill?
The term puppy mill is a label that every breeder denies applies to them. A puppy mill owner will often refer to themselves as a "puppy farm". Sounds idyllic doesn't it? Very simply put, a puppy mill is a breeder that has financial gain as their number one goal. The physical and emotional health of the dogs under their care and the long term health of the breed factors very little in the decision making process at a puppy mill. Only some or none of the breeding stock at a puppy mill will have adequate genetic, structural and temperamental evaluation. These puppies are often sold on the internet and shipped to the buyer at a bargain price. It's seldom profitable to breed dogs humanely and responsibly. The profit comes when dogs live their lives in cages, rather than with human companionship. The profit comes when commercial operations provide only the minimum requirements to keep a dog alive and able to breed. Filth, loneliness, fear and pain are typical of the life these dogs know. Quantity is a priority and there are mills operating that produce upwards of 300 Boykin puppies a year. Nobody can properly provide a healthy developmental situation with this number of puppies to care for. Puppies produced at puppy mills have the wrong start in life. Experiences in the early weeks are critical to a dog's development. Commercially bred puppies miss vital experiences they need during this time, and they are often exposed to experiences that may harm their emotional stability later.
Behavior problems you may experience with a puppy from this source include housetraining issues because the puppy has been confined, walking in its own feces and urine. This causes damage to the pup's natural instincts to keep the den area clean. These pups have also typically missed important conditioning to appropriate surfaces for defecation and urination. They may never have even been on grass. Leaving the mother and littermates too early can result later in biting problems, since the pup has missed early bite inhibition that needs to happen in the litter. Parents who have lived normal lives will have been observed around children, other dogs, cats, strangers, unexpected situations and other things that some dogs cannot handle. If the temperament of either parent isn't safe around humans, a responsible breeder will not use that dog for breeding. Dogs in a puppy mill operation do not live normal lives, so the breeders do not know whether they have reliable temperaments for family life. Decisions about which male to use with which female are based on profitability (how many puppies they can get in how short a time), leaving genetic and behavioral issues for the unsuspecting puppy buyers to worry about later.
Responsible breeders make their breeding choices based on producing puppies with the genetics for both good health and good temperament. Responsible breeders will be there for you later if there are problems. A responsible breeder will place each pup personally, not through a third party such as a pet shop or dog broker. The puppy mill owner is not interested in any problems you have beyond the time your purchase check has been cashed. As Boykin Spaniels have become more popular, puppy mills have moved in on this potential market for profit. There are often long wait times for responsibly bred puppies from ethical, responsible breeders and puppy mills can usually produce puppies on demand when uninformed, uneducated buyers want a puppy right now. Worst of all, purchasing a puppy from a mill supports and propagates the misery of the dogs in the care of the mill and the long term damage to the health of the breed in general. Since profitability is their number one goal, the best way to shut down puppy mills is to become knowledgeable enough to recognize them and DO NOT BUY THEIR PUPPIES. That purchase makes it profitable to breed the parent dogs again, and the cycle of suffering continues.
What Is a Backyard Breeder?
This term is used to describe people who breed dogs without knowing, whether intentionally or not, what they are doing. Their motive may be sentimentality or profit, and occasionally some will make a significant profit from turning out puppies without investing the money to provide them with good care and/or test the parents to be sure they are free of genetic diseases common in Boykins such as EIC, hip dysplasia, CEA, DM, and hereditary cataract disease.
The backyard-bred puppy may make an OK companion dog, if the parents were good companion dogs. Genetic health and temperament problems may be waiting to emerge as the pup matures, since this type of breeder may have done none, or only some of the appropriate testing of the parents to make a good genetic pairing. It's a significant gamble as to how things will turn out with a puppy you acquire from this type of breeder as they have rarely spent the time to educate themselves to any significant degree about health and pedigree. A pup from a backyard breeder is NOT a bargain when the pup later requires expensive medical intervention for a genetic disorder or expensive training to remedy a behavioral issue that resulted from mishandling as a pups. Rarely have they considered the effect of their breedings as they concern the overall health of the breed.
You should expect that these pups may have missed early experiences that a responsible and knowledgeable breeder would have provided. It's also possible some things will have been done that were not good for the future temperament of the pups, such as mishandling by children.
These puppies are probably the cheapest pups to purchase, especially the ones the breeder can't sell at the most profitable "cute" age.
Parts of this page section modified/adapted from THE CANINE BEHAVIOR SERIES By Kathy Diamond Davis
What is a Responsible Breeder?
A responsible breeder is defined as one who has dedicated a considerable amount of effort and time becoming educated about the history, special characteristics and health issues of the dogs they are interested in breeding. A responsible breeder's motives and decisions are based on what is best for the animals in their care and the breed as a whole. They have taken the time to understand in depth the research and best practices behind the reproduction of dogs as well as the developmental stages and requirements of puppies. A responsible breeder will have a network of resources at their disposal including relationships with other ethical, knowledgeable breeders and animal care professionals such as veterinarians, including a reproductive specialist. These breeders will have a firm knowledge of how genetics and genetic disorders can affect the outcome of a breeding. They will have done a great deal of research into the pedigrees of the breed. They will be willing to neuter a dog if it does not possess the genetic, temperamental or structural characteristics that are best for the breed even if they have many thousands of dollars invested in showing or campaigning the dog.
A responsible breeder will take responsibility for the puppies they produce for their entire lifetime, understanding that creating new life is an enormous responsibility and dogs have no influence over their own welfare. Potential puppy buyers will be carefully screened and contact maintained to be sure all is going well.
When choosing a breeder, there are three main sources of puppies - puppy mills, backyard breeders and professional, responsible breeders.
What Is a Puppy Mill?
The term puppy mill is a label that every breeder denies applies to them. A puppy mill owner will often refer to themselves as a "puppy farm". Sounds idyllic doesn't it? Very simply put, a puppy mill is a breeder that has financial gain as their number one goal. The physical and emotional health of the dogs under their care and the long term health of the breed factors very little in the decision making process at a puppy mill. Only some or none of the breeding stock at a puppy mill will have adequate genetic, structural and temperamental evaluation. These puppies are often sold on the internet and shipped to the buyer at a bargain price. It's seldom profitable to breed dogs humanely and responsibly. The profit comes when dogs live their lives in cages, rather than with human companionship. The profit comes when commercial operations provide only the minimum requirements to keep a dog alive and able to breed. Filth, loneliness, fear and pain are typical of the life these dogs know. Quantity is a priority and there are mills operating that produce upwards of 300 Boykin puppies a year. Nobody can properly provide a healthy developmental situation with this number of puppies to care for. Puppies produced at puppy mills have the wrong start in life. Experiences in the early weeks are critical to a dog's development. Commercially bred puppies miss vital experiences they need during this time, and they are often exposed to experiences that may harm their emotional stability later.
Behavior problems you may experience with a puppy from this source include housetraining issues because the puppy has been confined, walking in its own feces and urine. This causes damage to the pup's natural instincts to keep the den area clean. These pups have also typically missed important conditioning to appropriate surfaces for defecation and urination. They may never have even been on grass. Leaving the mother and littermates too early can result later in biting problems, since the pup has missed early bite inhibition that needs to happen in the litter. Parents who have lived normal lives will have been observed around children, other dogs, cats, strangers, unexpected situations and other things that some dogs cannot handle. If the temperament of either parent isn't safe around humans, a responsible breeder will not use that dog for breeding. Dogs in a puppy mill operation do not live normal lives, so the breeders do not know whether they have reliable temperaments for family life. Decisions about which male to use with which female are based on profitability (how many puppies they can get in how short a time), leaving genetic and behavioral issues for the unsuspecting puppy buyers to worry about later.
Responsible breeders make their breeding choices based on producing puppies with the genetics for both good health and good temperament. Responsible breeders will be there for you later if there are problems. A responsible breeder will place each pup personally, not through a third party such as a pet shop or dog broker. The puppy mill owner is not interested in any problems you have beyond the time your purchase check has been cashed. As Boykin Spaniels have become more popular, puppy mills have moved in on this potential market for profit. There are often long wait times for responsibly bred puppies from ethical, responsible breeders and puppy mills can usually produce puppies on demand when uninformed, uneducated buyers want a puppy right now. Worst of all, purchasing a puppy from a mill supports and propagates the misery of the dogs in the care of the mill and the long term damage to the health of the breed in general. Since profitability is their number one goal, the best way to shut down puppy mills is to become knowledgeable enough to recognize them and DO NOT BUY THEIR PUPPIES. That purchase makes it profitable to breed the parent dogs again, and the cycle of suffering continues.
What Is a Backyard Breeder?
This term is used to describe people who breed dogs without knowing, whether intentionally or not, what they are doing. Their motive may be sentimentality or profit, and occasionally some will make a significant profit from turning out puppies without investing the money to provide them with good care and/or test the parents to be sure they are free of genetic diseases common in Boykins such as EIC, hip dysplasia, CEA, DM, and hereditary cataract disease.
The backyard-bred puppy may make an OK companion dog, if the parents were good companion dogs. Genetic health and temperament problems may be waiting to emerge as the pup matures, since this type of breeder may have done none, or only some of the appropriate testing of the parents to make a good genetic pairing. It's a significant gamble as to how things will turn out with a puppy you acquire from this type of breeder as they have rarely spent the time to educate themselves to any significant degree about health and pedigree. A pup from a backyard breeder is NOT a bargain when the pup later requires expensive medical intervention for a genetic disorder or expensive training to remedy a behavioral issue that resulted from mishandling as a pups. Rarely have they considered the effect of their breedings as they concern the overall health of the breed.
You should expect that these pups may have missed early experiences that a responsible and knowledgeable breeder would have provided. It's also possible some things will have been done that were not good for the future temperament of the pups, such as mishandling by children.
These puppies are probably the cheapest pups to purchase, especially the ones the breeder can't sell at the most profitable "cute" age.
Parts of this page section modified/adapted from THE CANINE BEHAVIOR SERIES By Kathy Diamond Davis
What is a Responsible Breeder?
A responsible breeder is defined as one who has dedicated a considerable amount of effort and time becoming educated about the history, special characteristics and health issues of the dogs they are interested in breeding. A responsible breeder's motives and decisions are based on what is best for the animals in their care and the breed as a whole. They have taken the time to understand in depth the research and best practices behind the reproduction of dogs as well as the developmental stages and requirements of puppies. A responsible breeder will have a network of resources at their disposal including relationships with other ethical, knowledgeable breeders and animal care professionals such as veterinarians, including a reproductive specialist. These breeders will have a firm knowledge of how genetics and genetic disorders can affect the outcome of a breeding. They will have done a great deal of research into the pedigrees of the breed. They will be willing to neuter a dog if it does not possess the genetic, temperamental or structural characteristics that are best for the breed even if they have many thousands of dollars invested in showing or campaigning the dog.
A responsible breeder will take responsibility for the puppies they produce for their entire lifetime, understanding that creating new life is an enormous responsibility and dogs have no influence over their own welfare. Potential puppy buyers will be carefully screened and contact maintained to be sure all is going well.
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WHAT RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS REALLY DO
This is a great video produced by the Golden Retriever Club of America that outlines in a fun way many of the things an ethical, responsible breeder does. For the buyer, for the puppies, and for the breed. The very best to you and yours in finding a great breeder and a great forever friend! |