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Boykin Spaniel Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Traits & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Boykin Spaniel

Height: 14–18 inches
Weight: 25–40 pounds
Lifespan: 10–15 years
Colors: Solid brown
Suitable for: A family with a large yard
Temperament: A friendly, intelligent, and social dog, always eager to please.

Boykin Spaniels are medium-sized dogs that were first bred in the early 1900s. As hunting dogs, they’ve been used for the past 100 years to retrieve downed waterfowl and wild turkeys in the lakes and swamps of South Carolina.

However, they are more likely to be active and loyal family pets than hunting dogs. Boykin Spaniels are energetic and best suited to active families who like to get out and about for regular exercise and outdoor fun. They have a forgiving and mellow temperament and typically get along with children and other animals.

While they love spending time with their families, Boykin Spaniels are not suited to apartment living and need a yard with plenty of space.

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Characteristics

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Boykin Spaniel Puppies

The Boykin Spaniel is recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Breeders and owners of purebred Boykin Spaniels can register their dogs with the AKC and purchase an AKC-certified pedigree that outlines up to four generations of the dog’s family history.

As with any other breed of dog, you must take the time to thoroughly check out the breeder before purchasing your puppy. We recommend choosing a breeder from the ASCBAA Breeder Directory Program, as all of the breeders listed in the program must be members in good standing with the AKC and the ASCBAA.

In accordance with this Code, your breeder will conduct and disclose several basic health checks with potential buyers so you can be sure that you will be getting a healthy puppy that does not have an elevated predisposition to any known hereditary conditions.

Boykin Spaniel puppy
Image: Pikrepo

3 Little-Known Facts About the Boykin Spaniel

1. Boykin Spaniels Are Excellent Swimmers

Having been bred to flush and retrieve a variety of fowl from swamps and lakes, Boykin Spaniels are excellent swimmers who love the water. A skill that significantly enhanced by the fact that they have webbed toes that act like swim fins when in the water.

They are so skilled at swimming that their official entry on the AKC’s website says that the “web-toed Boykins can swim like seals.”

2. They Are the Official State Dog of South Carolina

In 1985, the South Carolina General Assembly passed Bill 24031, which became Act 31, 1985, ratifying the Boykin Spaniel as the official dog of South Carolina. The law designating the Boykin Spaniel as the official state dog can be found in the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 9, Section 1-1-6552.

The reasons listed in the bill for choicing of the Boykin Spaniel as the official state dog include:

  • The Boykin Spaniel is the only dog originally bred for South Carolina hunters by South Carolinians.
  • The Boykin Spaniel has developed into a breed with superb hunting instincts and mild temperament.
  • The Boykin Spaniel is a highly regarded pet and hunting dog.

3. The Boykin Spaniel Is a True “All-American” Dog Breed

Named after a founding resident of Boykin, South Carolina, Lemuel Whitaker “Whit” Boykin, the Boykin Spaniel originated in 1900 when Alexander White found a small brown Spaniel outside his church in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Alexander White named the dog Dumpy and took him on a hunt with his retrievers. White was thrilled to find that Dumpy was a natural hunter, and he later sent him to a hunting training program with a local dog man, Whit Boykin.

Boykin saw something in the dog and became fascinated with Dumpy’s ability to hunt waterfowl. He began a breeding program with Dumpy, using Retrievers and Spaniels as crosses, and the result was the modern-day Boykin Spaniel.

Boykin Spaniel
Credit: Zadranka, Shutterstock

Temperament & Intelligence of the Boykin Spaniel 🧠

Boykin Spaniels are highly intelligent and friendly dogs that love being around people. They are incredibly loyal to their owners and are always eager to please, a trait that helps significantly with training. They’re known to be inquisitive, and they love to explore, but they’re also obedient and generally listen when called away from something that has taken their interest.

Boykin likes to be mentally stimulated and can entertain themselves with toys and games if you need to leave them alone. Yet, despite their energy levels, they’ll take the opportunity to curl up in a nice sunny spot anytime the chance arises.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, Boykin Spaniels make great family pets. They adore children and will happily run around outside and play for hours. They will do best with an active family willing to take them out for long walks and runs daily.

Boykins are typically fine around young children. Their calm and friendly nature allows them to walk away if a child starts to annoy them rather than become aggressive. They’re not excessive barkers, but they’re alert and will bark to warn their family of any perceived threat.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

For a Spaniel, the Boykin has quite a low prey drive, and is typically fine around other animals regardless of their size. If they are socialized, they will get on fine with almost any dog and happily be your cat’s best non-feline buddy.

Boykin Spaniels also don’t get too hung up about their position in the family and are unlikely to feel threatened by the presence of a new pet you bring into your house.

Boykin Spaniel puppy
Credit: Zadranka, Shutterstock

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Things to Know When Owning a Boykin Spaniel:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Boykin Spaniels are active dogs and need a diet that provides the nutrition and energy they need. A Boykin Spaniel should be fed a high-quality dry dog food formulated specifically for medium dogs. Like many Spaniels, Boykin Spaniels can put on excessive weight if you overfeed them.

So, it is important to follow the feeding suggestions on your pet’s dog food. However, it’s best to talk to your vet for feeding tips and diet advice. We recommend feeding your dog twice daily, giving them half of their daily serving in the morning and the other half at night.

Exercise 🐕

As we’ve mentioned above, Boykin Spaniels are highly active dogs. They were bred to walk, swim, and hunt all day, and they won’t be happy if you don’t give them the chance to burn through their energy.

Boykin Spaniels are great jogging companions and will be more than happy to accompany their families on any outing that involves getting outside for exercise or play.

The Boykin Spaniel’s intelligent and curious personality means that they also need a fair amount of mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise. This came come in the form of obedience or agility training, tracking, or any number of other activities that can be enjoyed by humans and dogs.

Training 🦮

The Boykin Spaniel is intelligent and eager to please; they respond well to training, and you will likely find that your puppy relishes spending time with you and learning new things. Of course, that’s not to say that training a Boykin Spaniel won’t be without its challenges, but rather that the process will be enjoyable for you and your dog.

We recommend starting your training early in your puppy’s life with socialization and puppy training classes to help ensure your Boykin grows into a well-mannered and well-adjusted adult dog. Then, once you and your pet have mastered the basics, you can look to more interesting and challenging activities, such as agility training or learning how to track.

Of course, if you plan on using your dog in their traditional hunting role, you must undergo specialized training. And unless you are an experienced hunter and dog trainer, you should seek professional assistance.

Boykin Spaniel
Credit: Zadranka, shutterstock

Grooming ✂️

Boykin Spaniels have medium-length, wavy coats that require minimal attention. Regular weekly brushing is generally all that is needed to keep their coat from matting, and it may be helpful to have a dog groomer clip your dog’s coat occasionally. They shed, but only moderately. More regular brushing may be required when they are shedding.

You shouldn’t need to wash your Boykin Spaniel too often, and we recommend being guided by how dirty your dog gets during their work or play. As with all dogs, Boykin Spaniels also need their nails clipped every month or two and will benefit from having their teeth brushed regularly with canine toothpaste. You should also check their ears regularly for any signs of infection.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Overall, the Boykin Spaniel is a healthy breed. There are some common conditions you should watch out for, and we have listed them below, but careful breeding and comprehensive testing have gone a long way in reducing the incidence of most of the conditions within the breed.

The most common conditions that affect Boykin Spaniels include:

Minor Conditions
  • Weight gain
  • Diabetes
  • Ear infections
Serious Conditions
  • Patellar luxation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Exercise-induced collapse (EIC)
  • Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
  • Heart disease

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Male vs Female

As with many breeds, male Boykin Spaniels are a little taller and heavier than females. From a temperament point of view, there is little difference between the sexes. However, while on heat, female dogs may become a bit more territorial, and of the two sexes, males (particularly intact dogs) are more inclined to roam.

For the most part, a much better way to choose a dog is to look at the litter and seek the advice of the breeder. Usually, the breeder, who has spent hours with the puppies, will help you find the quietest, most energetic, or stubborn individuals in the litter.

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Final Thoughts

Boykin Spaniels are fun-loving, intelligent, and playful dogs. They make great family pets, companion dogs, and hunting dogs.  They don’t require a great deal of care when it comes to grooming, and they are relatively easy to train. However, they need a home with a yard and plenty of space to run around and are not at all suited to apartment life.

Ideally, if you’re considering a Boykin Spaniel puppy, you love to work, run, and explore the great outdoors. You should also be prepared to train and care for a dog that wants to be an active part of your life for at least the next 10, possibly 15 years. Most of all, you need to understand that you won’t just be getting a dog; you’ll be adding a new member to your family.

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Featured Image Credit: PxHere

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