Copper
3 years old · Old Orchard Beach
A young Boykin who thinks every appointment is a party. His curls need weekly attention behind the ears.
Breed Grooming Guide 5.0 · Southern Maine
Boykin Spaniel Dog Grooming.
Boykins were bred to work out of a boat, and in Maine they find plenty of water to prove it. That rich chocolate wavy coat holds saltwater, pond weed and sand long after the swim is over. K-Pup grooms Boykin Spaniels mobile, with the water-dog problems — matting behind the ears, damp ear canals, sandy feet — handled properly in a trailer parked at your house.
Coat Types & Water Work
One breed, a lot of coat variation.
Boykin coats range from nearly flat to distinctly curly, and each type mats differently. For breed background, see the AKC Boykin Spaniel breed page.
Flat & Wavy Coats
The most common Boykin coat is a medium wave that dries fast and hides dirt well. It still needs a real blow-out, because sand and salt settle underneath the top layer where a brush skims over them.
Curly Coats
Curlier Boykins mat faster, especially on the ears, chest and rear feathering. These dogs do best on a tighter schedule with the curl kept at a manageable length rather than grown out.
Working Water Dogs
Boykins that retrieve out of ponds, rivers or the ocean need thorough freshwater rinsing and full drying every time. Left damp, the coat sours and the ears follow.
Puppies & Seniors
Puppy Boykins should get used to ear handling and dryer noise young. Seniors get shorter sessions and a lower-set table so nothing about grooming day is a strain.
Built For A Water Retriever
Wet coats, warm ears and sand in every crease.
Ear care after every swim
Heavy drop ears plus constant swimming makes Boykins one of the more ear-infection-prone breeds we see. We clean and fully dry both ears at every appointment and show you how to do a quick check at home.
Mat prevention in the feathering
Behind the ears, in the armpits and along the rear feathering is where a Boykin mats. We line-brush and, when the coat has gotten ahead of things, shorten rather than force a painful dematting.
Salt and sand removal
Salt left in the coat itches and flakes. A full freshwater rinse and high-velocity dry pulls sand out of the undercoat and the webbing between the toes.
Feet built for the water
Boykin feet are webbed and hairy. We tidy the hair between the pads so ice balls, sand and grit stop collecting there in every season.
The Boykin Spaniel Society publishes health and working-dog resources for owners of the breed.
Services
Boykin Spaniel grooming services.
01
Full Groom & Tidy
Bath, high-velocity dry, brush-out, feathering and feet tidied, ears cleaned and dried, nails and a coat-length plan you actually like.
02
Post-Swim Rinse
Freshwater rinse, full dry and ear cleaning after a heavy weekend on the water — the fastest way to prevent ear trouble.
03
Deshed & Detangle
A focused session on the feathering and behind the ears for coats that are starting to tangle between full grooms.
Our Process
How we groom a Boykin Spaniel.
Every boykin spaniel appointment follows the same order, start to finish, in the trailer in your driveway. Typical appointment time: about 1 hr 30 min, one dog at a time.
Coat and ear assessment
We check the ears, feathering and armpits for damp spots, sand and early tangles before starting.
Freshwater bath
A clarifying bath removes salt, pond residue and sand from the wavy coat, worked all the way to the skin.
Full high-velocity dry
The coat is dried completely — a damp Boykin coat is where skin trouble and matting start.
Ear cleaning and drying
Both canals cleaned and dried thoroughly, with the hair under the ear leather trimmed for airflow.
Brush-out and trim
Feathering line-brushed, ears and feet tidied, and the coat shortened where curl has started to tangle.
Feet and nails
Hair between the webbed pads trimmed and nails ground smooth so nothing catches on a dock or ramp.
This is the full step-by-step process K-Pup Dog Grooming uses for Boykin Spaniels in southern Maine.
Client Spotlight
Our favorite Boykin Spaniels.
A few of the Boykin Spaniels we look forward to seeing on the schedule — regulars from around southern Maine who hop up on the table like they own the trailer.
Marsh
5 years old · Scarborough
In the water more days than not. He books a rinse-and-dry between full grooms all summer long.
Sadie
9 years old · Saco
A gray-muzzled sweetheart who naps through the dryer. Ears cleaned every visit, without fail.
Fun Facts
The best things about Boykin Spaniels.
We groom a lot of Boykin Spaniels, and every one of them reminds us why the breed has such a loyal following. Here's what we love about the boykin spaniel.
South Carolina's state dog
The Boykin Spaniel is the official state dog of South Carolina, where the breed was developed for hunting out of small boats.
Bred to fit in a boat
Boykins were purposely kept small so they wouldn't tip the section boats used on the Wateree River.
Webbed feet
Their webbed toes make them serious swimmers — and mean we always check between the pads for sand and grit.
The 'little brown dog'
Boykins have been affectionately called LBDs — little brown dogs — since long before the AKC recognized the breed in 2009.
Ears need real attention
Heavy drop ears plus constant swimming make ear care the single most important part of a Boykin's grooming routine.
Related Breeds
Similar coats we groom.
Boykin Spaniels share brushing, drying, and trimming needs with these breeds — each guide covers coat care, timing, and pricing for mobile grooming in southern Maine.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Cocker Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
English Cocker Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
English Springer Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Irish Setter Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Airedale Terrier Dog Grooming
Hand-tidy terrier trims
Where We Groom Boykin Spaniels
Boykin Spaniel grooming across southern Maine.
Looking for a Boykin Spaniel groomer near you? K-Pup's mobile trailer covers southern Maine — pick your town and book a driveway appointment. See all our locations →
Kennebunkport Boykin Spaniel GroomingKennebunk Boykin Spaniel GroomingCape Porpoise Boykin Spaniel GroomingGoose Rocks Beach Boykin Spaniel GroomingArundel Boykin Spaniel GroomingBiddeford Boykin Spaniel GroomingSaco Boykin Spaniel GroomingWells Boykin Spaniel GroomingOgunquit Boykin Spaniel GroomingYork Boykin Spaniel GroomingOld Orchard Beach Boykin Spaniel GroomingScarborough Boykin Spaniel Grooming
Boykin Spaniel Grooming FAQ
Questions Boykin Spaniels owners ask us.
How often does a Boykin Spaniel need grooming?
Every 6 to 8 weeks, and more often during swimming season. Dogs who are in the water weekly benefit from an ear cleaning and dry every few weeks even between full grooms.
Should I trim my Boykin's coat short?
A moderate trim on the feathering, ears and feet keeps the coat functional without stripping the water-resistant body coat. We don't recommend shaving a Boykin down.
Why does my Boykin keep getting ear infections?
Heavy drop ears trap moisture after every swim. Cleaning and thoroughly drying the ears after water time — not just after baths — makes the biggest difference.
Do Boykins mat easily?
Curlier coats do, particularly behind the ears and in the armpits. Weekly brushing at home plus a regular professional blow-out keeps it manageable.
Can you groom after a beach day?
Absolutely — a post-beach rinse and full dry is one of the most useful appointments a Maine water dog can have.