Dog Breeds 101: Boykin Spaniel

Photo – Wikipedia – lic. under CC 2.0

The Boykin Spaniel was bred by South Carolinians to hunt turkey and waterfowl in the state’s swamps. These dogs are able to effectively flush and retrieve game and are always willing to work. One could expect a friendly, wagging tail from Boykins all the time. They are great hunters but are good companions as well. They are often described to be alert, self-confident and intelligent. [1]

The Boykin Spaniel breed began over 100 years ago when Mr. L. Whitaker Boykin adopted a small, brown spaniel at his Pine Grove Plantation near Camden, South Carolina. He named the dog Dumpy who turned out to be an excellent hunting companion and a skilled turkey and waterfowl retriever. Soon after, a mate with a similar appearance was discovered. For many years, Whitaker Boykin developed his own breed of hunting dogs. He was able to create a tireless working dog that also has a joyful and loving personality. [2]

The Boykin’s coat is medium in length, moderately curly and is deep liver-brown in color. It is widely believed that it was bred to specifically have a brown coat to provide camouflage while hunting. These dogs are medium-sized and are sturdily built. Females can grow up to 14 to 16 inches tall and males can reach 15 to 18 inches. The breed’s average weight is between 25 to 40 pounds. [3]

The friendly and social Boykin Spaniel is the perfect family pet. Training it is easy and it is very stable when around children and other pets. They are very energetic and has great endurance. Even after working all day, it can still play with its humans at home. It can easily adapt to different environments as long as it is given enough social interaction. The Boykin is also known to be very patient and not easily angered. [4]