The First Rinse and Check After a Swim
Boykins were built for retrieving in swamps and flooded timber, and the coat handles water well — but what the water leaves behind is your job. Rinse the dog with clean water after pond, river, or salt-water work to remove algae film, mud, and salt that irritate skin as they dry. Run your hands through the feathering on the legs, chest, and tail while the coat is still damp, because burrs, grass seeds, and small twigs lodge there during field work and work closer to the skin as the coat dries. Check between the toes and in the armpits too; a grass seed that goes unnoticed in damp feathering can become a painful problem days later, long after you have forgotten the swim that delivered it.
Ears: Why Spaniel Ears Trap Moisture After Every Swim
The Boykin's ears hang close over the canal, which is part of the spaniel design and exactly the problem after swimming: water enters the canal, warmth stays trapped under the flap, and air cannot circulate to dry it. Make ear drying a non-negotiable part of every outing — lift the flap, gently dry the visible inner ear and the entrance to the canal with a soft cloth or cotton pad, and never push anything deep into the canal itself. If your vet has recommended a drying product for your dog, use it as directed after swims; if not, ask at your next visit rather than experimenting. A dog who swims several times a week needs this routine several times a week, not when you remember it.
Coat Care Once the Dog Is Dry
Let the wavy coat dry, then brush and comb it through to the skin, paying attention to the feathering where tangles form first. The Boykin coat is a working coat — it does not need show trimming, but the hair between the pads benefits from being kept short so mud and ice do not ball there, and heavy mats behind the ears and in the leg feathering should be teased out before they felt. Bathing is needed only when the dog is genuinely dirty or carrying a pond smell that rinsing will not shift; over-bathing a dog who swims constantly strips the coat and can leave the skin drier than the water ever did. Between baths, the rinse-and-comb rhythm does most of the work.
The Post-Field Once-Over: Paws, Skin, and Eyes
Build a two-minute inspection into the end of every field session while the dog is still pleased and tired. Flex each paw and look for cuts, thorns, and seeds between the pads. Part the coat along the belly and inner legs — the skin there is thin, sparsely haired, and where scratches from cover show first. Check the eyes for seeds or debris after work in tall cover, and watch for squinting or pawing at a face on the drive home. Finally, watch the dog over the next day: renewed scratching at one ear, a hot spot blooming where a mat sat damp, or licking at a single paw all point back to something the outing left behind, and catching them early keeps small irritations small.
When Post-Swim Ear or Skin Changes Need a Vet
Some after-effects should not be managed at home. Contact your veterinarian if an ear develops a strong or yeasty smell, dark discharge, or redness, or if your Boykin starts shaking his head persistently, tilting it, or yelping when the ear is touched — those signs suggest infection rather than simple trapped water. The same applies to a skin wound that is deep, swelling, or not settling within a day or two, or a paw the dog will not bear weight on. For any change you spot after an outing, if deciding whether it can wait is hard, put a follow-up question to KinsLe's Kimmy; she answers using the KinsLe Answers library.