I am trying to find a breeder that deals with Boykins Spaniels. To be honest i don't think they exist over here. They are breed in America. But that seems a little extreme trying to import one over here.

Does anyone have any information about them?

This usual video explains the life story.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsRozl08RmA

Thanks,

Luke

Is this the breed that looks very like the Irish Water Spaniel only smaller. They are not being bred over here as far as I know and that may well be because there are so many similar breeds available.

It does not look like a Irish Water Spaniel, it looks more like a field spaniel I guess, but a little lower to the ground. You might be right with there being similar breeds, but these have beautiful yellow eyes, and from what I have researched different in temperament.

but these have beautiful yellow eyes,

Surprised to hear that, yellow is not usually considered acceptable in a canine, there you live and learn. Must say I also thought they had a curly coat again I stand corrected because the field is flat and glossy.

They look like a longer-legged, curly-coated field spaniel to me. Image 1. Image 2

curly-coated field spaniel to me.

See I am wrong again I did not know the Field Spaniel came in a curly coat.

Wiki has an interesting page with images of spaniel breeds from around the world.

>See I am wrong again I did not know the Field Spaniel came in a curly coat.

You were right, it doesn't. But the Boykin looks a bit how they would if they were curly.

Says here eyes yellow to brown to harmonise with coat. http://www.boykinspaniel.org/standard.html Have to admit I don't think there is anything much uglier than yellow eyes in a brown coat, like you see in so many badly bred Chocolate Labradors  -it makes the eyes harsh. But then as we say in Sweden; taste is like the backside; divided! :)

> But that seems a little extreme trying to import one over here.
>
>

Not really, plenty of us with well established breeds here go that route to increase the gene pools.

Anyway:

I believe the American Water Spaniel has been imported and is on the Import Breeds register, but to be honest the Irish Water Spaniel is not dissimilar and more established though with fairly low in numbers.

If you like lighter eye colour then the Sussex may worth considering.

Alternatively the working cocker is rather different in type to the show and looks a little like a small multi coloured working Springer.

great wiki link. it seems to me the big difference is that a boykin's ears are shorter than the field spaniels. the coats are similar but a little shorter than the fields again. that could just be down to grooming though......

hmmm it is very difficult,  so which breeder do you think is closest to the Boykin??????

I'd say Field or working cocker - you can get working cockers in liver, so either breed would look superficially similar to a Boykin. :-)

I'd say Field or working cocker - you can get working cockers in liver,

But one would hope not with yellow eyes!!!

Ooh, good point! Mind you I daresay some of them have lighter brown eyes than others. :-)

A good site to read up on these as working gundogs is VersatileDogs.com. It is an American forum.
My own rare breed is also there so I pop in from time to time to see how they are getting on.

American Water Spaniels are on the KC imp reg so their will be breeders in this country although may be not many but they should not have yellow eyes that is considered a fault, well it is as far as the KC is concerned, and the coat should be wavy or curly.

Although on the KC Imp. Reg there are no clubs and no breeders registered.

Put a white splash on its chest and you've pretty much got my childhood dog, albeit a bit darker.  but the coat in thsoe two images (including the quiff :-P) is spot on).

She was a springer X irish water though, no claim to rare breed status lol!

Think they are allowed a white patch on chest but don't think they are a rare breed but rather on the Import Register. Could be wrong, :-) it does happen.

Just thought I would explain some of the terms used and their context.

When referring to the Kennel club recognised breeds 'Rare Breed' means breeds recognised but not awarded Challenge Certificates (which you need to make a champion).

Imported 'Breeds register' refers to breeds that have been imported and recognised with a provisional standard, and until there is a sufficiently wide breeding base will not be accepted for full participation in Kennel Club activities.

Interestingly some established breeds are actually rarer than some 'Rare' status breeds, and imported register ones.

For example my and Nova's own breed that has been in this country since the 1870's for the last few years have had fewer than 50 puppies registered in some years and no more than 100 for around the last 10 years.

Suppose it is confusing to those unused to dog speak, think the Import Register is for dogs, not necessary rare or scarce in their county of origin but thin on the ground in the UK, so thin that an established UK standard has not yet been written by those in the fancy (Fancy - a group of people interested in a particular breed)

As Brainless says rare just means that there have never been enough of them in the UK to have been allocated CC status, some breeds move from the Imp. Reg. or the Rare onto the full register very quickly - it does seem though that often having been very keen and numbers increased rapidly once they have full status they seem to dip before becoming more stable and established.

Then there are breeds like ours that are on the full register and have been in the country for years & years but are perhaps more of an enthusiasts breed and never become over popular, and with good reason our breeders are careful not to over breed because they are not a breed for everyone and require a degree of give and take something some dog owners would not be prepared to tolerate. So most of our breeders would not dream of having a litter unless they have a good number of prospective owners who have already been vetted.