50% off your first order. Redeem Now

Dog Food Chevron
Cat Food Chevron
More Chevron
See Plans & Pricing Account

FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel was bred for long days flushing and retrieving in South Carolina's wetlands — a compact, webbed-footed athlete with the stamina to hunt from sunup to sundown. That working engine sets the whole feeding picture: a Boykin runs on clean animal protein and fat, not filler.

Here is exactly how to feed a Boykin Spaniel on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that fuels their drive, steadies their joints, and supports the skin, coat, and ears a water dog leans on.

  • Adult weight25–40 lb
  • SizeMedium
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan14–16 years
  • CoatMedium, flat to moderately curly — moderate shedder

The official state dog of South Carolina

Build my dog's plan → Shop recipes
A healthy Boykin Spaniel
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Boykin Spaniel's body needs

Every Boykin Spaniel trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Bred for all-day hunting, high stamina

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and ground bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy — the kind of clean fuel a working spaniel burns through, without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Loves the water, webbed feet, floppy ears

    Needs: Omega-3s + low-inflammation diet

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, while a minimally processed, low-filler diet helps dial down the chronic ear and skin irritation a swimming, water-loving breed is prone to.

  • Medium, moderately curly coat that sheds

    Needs: Omega-rich whole-food fats

    Real meat and fish fats nourish skin and coat at the source, supporting a healthy sheen and easing the moderate shedding Boykins are known for between brushings.

  • Athletic build, joint-loading activity

    Needs: Natural joint support + lean weight

    Real bone, cartilage and organ supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, and omega-3s calm joint inflammation — while staying lean takes load off every jump, swim and retrieve.

  • Eager, food-motivated worker

    Needs: Measured, calorie-honest portions

    Freeze-dried raw is measured by weight, so it's easy to fuel a hard day in the field and just as easy to pull back on a rest day — keeping a Boykin lean and ready, not soft.

How much to feed a Boykin Spaniel

Quick answer: a healthy adult Boykin Spaniel (25–40 lb) needs about 3.8–6.0 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
25 lb 3.8 oz 1.9 oz
29 lb 4.4 oz 2.2 oz
33 lb typical Boykin Spaniel 5.0 oz 2.5 oz
37 lb 5.6 oz 2.8 oz
40 lb 6.0 oz 3.0 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

Get exact portion →

What to feed a Boykin Spaniel

For a Boykin Spaniel we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition.

Lean single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit everyday feeding and sensitive dogs; omega-rich Salmon is a natural fit for a water dog's skin and coat, and richer Beef helps fuel hard-working or underweight Boykins. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Boykin Spaniels

Shop all →

Daily support for Boykin Spaniels

Shop all →

Treats Boykin Spaniels love

Shop all →

Feeding a Boykin Spaniel by life stage

  • Puppy: Boykin puppies are busy and fast-growing. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals up to about a year, then settle into two meals a day. Keep them lean — extra weight on growing joints is the last thing an athletic spaniel needs.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist split across two meals, and flex portions with activity — more on hunting and hiking days, less on rest days. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity eases but appetite often doesn't. Trim portions to hold a lean weight, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and skin-supporting nutrition as they age.

Common Boykin Spaniel concerns — and the diet connection

  • Exercise-induced collapseA genetic neuromuscular condition unrelated to diet, but a lean body and clean, steady animal-protein fuel support overall conditioning and recovery — and keeping a Boykin lean reduces strain during intense activity.
  • Degenerative myelopathyAn age-related nerve condition where staying mobile matters most — maintaining lean weight and ample high-quality protein helps preserve the muscle and body condition that keep an aging dog moving comfortably.
  • Pulmonic stenosisA congenital heart consideration in the breed; a lean body condition eases the heart's everyday workload, and a whole-food diet free of excess filler supports healthy weight and overall cardiovascular fitness.
  • Skin & ear irritationA water-loving breed with floppy ears is prone to trapped moisture and irritation; an omega-rich, low-inflammation whole-food diet supports the skin barrier from the inside while you keep ears dry and clean.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Boykin Spaniel: what to know

A Boykin's calorie needs swing with the season. A dog hunting or hiking for hours burns far more than the same dog on a quiet week — so feed to the work in front of them, not a fixed number, and check body condition often: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above.

Because they love the water, dry them thoroughly after a swim and pair that with a whole-food, omega-rich diet that supports the skin and ear health these wetland dogs depend on. Weigh portions rather than eyeballing them, and re-check the amount after any change in activity.

Boykin Spaniel feeding questions

How much should I feed my Boykin Spaniel?
A healthy adult Boykin (about 25–40 lb) needs roughly 4–6 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust up on heavy hunting or hiking days.
What's the best food for an active, hard-working Boykin?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet built on real meat, organs and bone gives a working spaniel clean, sustained energy without carb fillers. Lean proteins like Chicken or Cod suit everyday feeding, while richer Beef helps fuel long days in the field.
Does my water-loving Boykin need extra skin and coat support?
Often, yes. Boykins swim, and floppy ears plus a damp coat can lead to skin and ear irritation. An omega-rich whole-food diet supports the skin barrier from the inside — and Salmon recipes or a Skin & Coat Omega supplement are a natural fit alongside drying ears well after every swim.
How do I switch my Boykin to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. It's rich, so start at the lower end of the range and feed to body condition, dialing portions up or down with how active your Boykin is that week.
Are Boykin Spaniels prone to weight gain?
They're eager, food-motivated workers, so calories add up fast on lighter-activity weeks. Measured freeze-dried raw makes portions easy to control — feed to a visible waist and easily felt ribs rather than to the begging, and adjust with their workload.

THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE

If your dog won't eat it, it's on us

Try Boykin Spaniel's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.

  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
Build my dog's meal plan →

Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.