Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel is a medium-sized spaniel from the United States, bred to hunt wild turkeys and ducks in the Wateree River Swamp of South Carolina. It is the state dog of South Carolina, which has marked Boykin Spaniel Day on September 1 since 1984.

History

The story begins around 1900 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where a small stray spaniel-type dog attached itself to a banker, Alexander L. White, on his walk to church. White took the dog home, named it Dumpy, and found it had a knack for retrieving. He sent it to his hunting partner Lemuel Whitaker “Whit” Boykin near Camden. Boykin turned the stray into a fine turkey dog and waterfowl retriever and crossed it with other breeds, and the resulting dog carries his name. According to his grandson, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, American Water Spaniel and several pointing breeds went into it. The dogs had to be small enough to ride in the little boats hunters used in the swamps.

Camden was a resort and hunting area, so visitors noticed the dogs and took them across the country. The Boykin family formed the Boykin Spaniel Society in 1977; it began a studbook in 1979 and closed it in 1980. The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1985. A second club, formed in the 1990s to seek American Kennel Club recognition, was accepted by the AKC as the parent club in 2007, and Boykins have been able to earn AKC hunt test, agility, tracking and obedience titles since 2006.

Appearance

The Boykin is only a little taller than an English Cocker Spaniel but much broader through the body. Males stand about 39 to 43 cm and weigh 14 to 18 kg; females are 36 to 42 cm and 11 to 16 kg. The coat is liver or chocolate, of medium length, and anything from flat to moderately curly, with light feathering on the ears, chest, legs and belly that may bleach to gold or tawny. Coats vary a lot because of the mix of breeds in the background. The eyes range from bright gold to dark amber. The tail is traditionally docked.

Temperament

Boykins are friendly, sociable dogs, easy to train and eager to work, and steady with children and other dogs. They have plenty of energy and endurance and adapt to most homes if they get company and enough exercise. In the field they flush and retrieve, cope well with heat, and are known as “the dog that doesn’t rock the boat”.

Care and health

The breed needs daily exercise and regular grooming. Clipping helps working dogs, since the soft coat picks up briars and foxtails.

Hip dysplasia has been common, though figures from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals show it falling from 51.8 percent of dogs born in 1990 or earlier to 14.8 percent of those born after 2021. Exercise-induced collapse was identified in the breed in 2010 and was said in 2017 to affect about 10 percent of Boykins. Collie eye anomaly and degenerative myelopathy also occur, and DNA tests exist for all three. Inherited heart disease, eye disease, patellar luxation, elbow dysplasia, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism and skin problems are known as well.

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