Best Dog Food for Boykin Spaniels

Karan French

By

Karan French
Karan French

Karan French

Senior Researcher

Karan is a senior researcher at the Dog Food Advisor, working closely with our in-house pet nutritionist, Laura Ward, to give pet parents all the information they need to find the best food for their dog.

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Updated: September 6, 2024

Verified by Laura Ward

Laura Ward

Laura Ward

Pet Nutritionist

Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.

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Laura Ward

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What’s the best dog food for Boykin Spaniels?

Boykin Spaniels are active dogs, so it’s important to select a dog food that is formulated to meet their specific energy requirements without overloading them with excessive calories.

As always, ensure that the dog food you choose provides a balanced mix of proteinsfatscarbohydratesvitamins, and minerals.

Opt for a dog food that lists high-quality animal-based proteins as the main ingredients, such as chickenbeef, or fish. These proteins provide essential amino acids for muscle development and maintenance.

Boykin Spaniels may have sensitivities or allergies, so be mindful of potential allergens in their food. If your Boykin Spaniel exhibits signs of allergies or digestive issues, consult with your veterinarian to identify potential triggers and consider a limited ingredient diet or specialized formulas.

Below, you can see our recommendations of the best foods for Boykin Spaniels, which we hope will help you choose the right food for your pet.

You’ll also learn the answer to each of the most frequently asked questions we get about Boykin Spaniels.

The Dog Food Advisor - Editor's choice

Best Dog Food for Boykin Spaniels October 2024

Here are The Dog Food Advisor's best dog food brands for Boykin Spaniels for October 2024.

  • 1. The Farmer’s Dog

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    The Farmer’s Dog Beef Recipe is one of 4 fresh recipes included in our review of the The Farmer’s Dog Fresh product line.

    The Farmer’s Dog Beef Recipe derives the bulk of its meat protein from beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 39.3% protein, 28.6% fat and 24.1% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 73%.

    Human-grade meat and veggies in simple recipes.

    Read our review of the full The Farmer’s Dog range here

    Main Ingredients Beef, sweet potatoes, cooked lentils, carrots, beef liver
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 39.3%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For Puppies & Dogs

    Sample buyer review...

    "My dog LOVES the food and I love the convenience and nutritional value!"

    Read more buyer reviews at TheFarmersDog.com
  • 2. Spot & Tango

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    Spot & Tango Turkey & Red Quinoa is one of three fresh recipes included in our review of the Spot & Tango Fresh product line.

    Spot & Tango Turkey & Red Quinoa derives the bulk of its meat protein from turkey. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 45.2% protein, 19.4% fat and 27.5% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 43%.

    Cooked fresh, ready-to-serve dog food full of fresh fruits & vegetables — no artificial additives, preservatives or fillers.

    Read our review of the full Spot and Tango Dog Food (Fresh) range here

    Main Ingredients Turkey, red quinoa, eggs, spinach, carrots
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 45.2%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For Puppies & Dogs

    Sample buyer review...

    "I feel good about feeding Spot and Tango to Buster. I don’t have the time it takes to cook real food for him myself. Spot and Tango makes it easy, and Buster loves it!"

    Read more buyer reviews at SpotAndTango.com
  • 3. Vital Essentials

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    Vital Essentials Frozen Raw Beef Patties is one of five raw recipes included in our review of the Vital Essential Frozen Raw product line.

    Vital Essentials Frozen Raw Beef Patties derives the bulk of its meat protein from beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 53.8% protein, 30.8% fat and 7.4% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

    Limited ingredient frozen patties, a raw diet containing naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that build strong muscles, naturally support digestive and oral health, and provide essential nutrients.

    Read our review of the full Vital Essentials Dog Food (Raw Frozen) range here

    Main Ingredients Beef, beef liver, beef heart, beef lung, beef kidney
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 53.8%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For Dogs & Puppies

    Sample buyer review...

    "My dog loves this stuff! It works great as a training food for him on service dog outings because I can reward him as much as I want and don’t have to worry about unbalancing his food, I can just take some of his normal food out!"

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • 4. Primal

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    Primal Freeze Dried Nuggets Duck Formula is one of eight raw recipes included in our review of the Primal Freeze Dried product line.

    Primal Freeze Dried Nuggets Duck Formula of its meat protein from duck. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 44.5% protein, 26.1% fat and 21.3% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

    Real whole food nutrition with no synthetic vitamins or minerals and made with high-quality protein and certified organic produce.

    Read our review of the full Primal Freeze-Dried Formula Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here

    Main Ingredients Duck (with ground bone), duck liver, organic kale, organic squash, organic carrots
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 44.5%
    AAFCO Standards Adult Maintenance
    Best For Dogs

    Sample buyer review...

    "Feeding raw is very important. With feeding raw you are not feeding man made synthetics. Twinkie seems to like the Duck Formula."

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • 5. Zignature

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    Zignature Salmon Formula is one of 11 wet recipes included in our review of the Zignature canned product line.

    Zignature Salmon Formula derives the bulk of its protein from fish. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 47.7% protein, 29.5% fat and 14.7% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.

    Limited ingredient recipes, complete and balanced formulas.

    Read our review of the full Zignature Dog Food (Canned) range here

    Main Ingredients Salmon, fish broth, salmon meal, peas, chickpeas
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 47.7%
    AAFCO Standards Adult Maintenance
    Best For Dogs

    Sample buyer review...

    "Highest quality canned dog food. Our dog is healthy and fit."

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • 6. American Journey

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    American Journey Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato is one of five dry recipes included in our review of the American Journey Limited Ingredient product line.

    American Journey Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato of its protein from fish. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27.8% protein, 13.3% fat and 50.9% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%.

    Made with salmon as a single animal protein source, to support the needs of dogs with food sensitivities. Packed with nutrient-dense ingredients like blueberries, carrots, and easily digestible carbs like sweet potatoes for energy and antioxidant-rich ingredients to help support a healthy immune system, while omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help support skin, coat, brain and eye health.

    Read our review of the full American Journey Limited Ingredient Dog Food (Dry) range here

    Main Ingredients Deboned salmon, salmon meal, peas, chickpeas, sweet potatoes
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 27.8%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For Puppies & Dogs

    Sample buyer review...

    "Recently weaned our youngest dog off puppy food (which she did not like very much anyway) and she gobbles this stuff up now, no problem. We used to have to put a food topper on to get her to eat it, now she takes kibble as treats! The older dog loved it too. So far, poops look normal and healthy!"

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • 7. Orijen

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    Orijen Original is one of nine dry recipes included in our review of the Orijen dry product line.

    Orijen Original derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43.2% protein, 20.5% fat and 28.4% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.

    Nutrient-dense, grain-free dry dog food formula tailored to support your dog’s immune health, digestion, and skin and coat health through all life stages. The first five ingredients are free-run chicken, free-run turkey, flounder, whole mackerel and chicken liver for healthy natural sources of protein, vitamins and minerals.

    Read our review of the full Orijen Dog Food (Dry) range here

    Main Ingredients Chicken, turkey, salmon, whole herring, chicken liver
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 43.2%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For Dogs & Puppies

    Sample buyer review...

    "My 3 yr old has been eating Orijen for 2 yrs now and has stayed in awesome shape. Not a pound lost or gained at our recent trip to the vet. He loves it and I love it for the confidence I have in the brand"

    Read more buyer reviews at OrijenPetFoods.com
  • 8. Gather

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    Gather Free Acres Recipe with Organic Free-Run Chicken is one of 2 dry recipes included in our review of the Gather Dry product line.

    Gather Free Acres Recipe with Organic Free-Run Chicken derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33.3% protein, 16.7% fat and 42% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

    Free-run chicken, sustainably produced and certified organic. A single source of poultry protein with wholesome foods such as organic peas, lentils, krill meal, organic flaxseed, blueberries and cranberries to provide your dog with excellent nutrition.

     

    Read our review of the full Gather Dog Food (Dry) range here

    Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic dehydrated chicken, organic peas, lentils, chicken fat
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 33.3%
    AAFCO Standards Adult Maintenance
    Best For Dogs

    Sample buyer review...

    "One of my dogs is 15 with a couple of health issues, there was a definite improvement in his energy, alertness, and coat with this food "

    Read more buyer reviews at GatherPetFood.com

Here are the most frequently asked questions we get about feeding Boykin Spaniels:

Boykin Spaniels are a medium sized breed of dog known for their flushing, retrieving, and swimming abilities which were originally used for hunting in the lakes and swamps of South Carolina. The American Kennel Club (AKC) ranks Boykin Spaniels within the top 82 most popular breeds in the United States but their ranking position has been slowly climbing since 2016.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big are Boykin Spaniels?

Boykin Spaniels stand up to 18 inches tall, with females measuring between 14 and 16.5 inches tall, and males measuring between 15 and 18 inches tall. Females weigh between 25-35 pounds while males weigh between 30 to 40 pounds. They are larger than Cocker Spaniels but more compact than Springer Spaniels, and are recognizable by their glorious brown coat and long, feathery ears.

How big are Boykin Spaniels?

Boykin Spaniels stand up to 18 inches tall, with females measuring between 14 and 16.5 inches tall, and males measuring between 15 and 18 inches tall. Females weigh between 25-35 pounds while males weigh between 30 to 40 pounds. They are larger than Cocker Spaniels but more compact than Springer Spaniels, and are recognizable by their glorious brown coat and long, feathery ears.

What kind of fur does a Boykin Spaniel have?

Boykin Spaniels have a medium-length, wavy coat which needs weekly brushing. They have one registered fur color which is ‘liver’, as listed by the American Kennel Club, with no markings.

What temperament do Boykin Spaniels have?

Boykin Spaniels are fantastic hunters but also make charming companions. They have the following traits:

  • Intelligent
  • Loyal
  • Highly affectionate
  • Protective
  • Happy with other dogs and pets
  • Good with children
  • Energetic
  • Easy to train

How much exercise do Boykin Spaniels need?

Boykin Spaniels were bred to hunt and retrieve, so they are highly energetic and enjoy lots of daily exercise. They would be happiest in an active household and also benefit from mental stimulation such as obedience training, tracking, agility or field events.

Which health concerns do Boykin Spaniels have?

Boykin Spaniels are a healthy breed overall but breeders will usually screen for;

  • Ear infections
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Juvenile cataracts
  • Exercise-induced collapse (EIC)

Final word

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