A medium-sized flushing and retrieving dog known for its rich brown coat, the Boykin Spaniel is avid, eager, merry, and trainable. This mellow housedog and tenacious bird dog was once South Carolina’s best-kept secret.
The Boykin Spaniel was developed in the United States as an all-around hunting dog, with a neat, compact body. The Boykin Spaniel is medium in size, with emphasis placed on his hunting abilities, characterized by flushing and retrieving, with moderate speed and agility. His pendulous ears, intelligent expression, sturdy build, and friendly wagging tail proclaim him part of the spaniel family.
The Boykin Spaniel is built to cover all types of ground conditions with agility and reasonable speed. He should appear as a dog for the endurance of a full day hunt with good but not too heavy bone. He should be kept to a medium size. He should be well-balanced and sound, showing the ability for the breed's intended function. He is solidly built, with moderate bone, and smooth firm muscles. A well-balanced dog, somewhat longer than tall. When measured from the point of shoulder to the buttocks it is slightly longer than from the withers to the ground. The ideal height for dogs is 15½ to 18 inches at the withers; bitches 14 to 16½ inches at the withers. Faults: A dog that is either too long in body or too long in leg is not in keeping with the standard. Dogs that are large or heavy as well as those that are slight shall be equally penalized.
The head must be in proportion with the size of the dog. The Boykin's expression is alert, self-confident, attractive and intelligent. His eyes are varying shades of brown, set well apart, medium size and oval shaped, trusting, and should not be protruding or bulging. The Boykin Spaniel’s ears are set slightly above or even with the line of the eye. The leather of the ear is thin and when pulled forward should almost reach the tip of the nose. The ears hang close to the cheeks and are flat. The skull is medium length fairly broad, flat on top, slightly rounded at the sides and back. The occiput bone is inconspicuous. The stop is moderate. When viewed from the side the nasal bone and the top of the skull form two parallel lines. The muzzle is approximately the same length as the skull, viewed from the top the width of the muzzle is approximately ½ the width of the skull. The distance from the tip of the nose to the occiput is about the same length as occiput to the base of the neck. The jaws are of sufficient length to allow the dog to carry game easily with no inclination of snipiness. His nose is to be fully pigmented, dark liver in color with well opened nostrils. The lips are close fitting and clean, without excess skin or flews. The bite should be scissors or level but scissors is preferred. Overshot or undershot bites are serious faults and should be penalized.
The neck is moderately long, muscular, slightly arched at the crest and gradually blends into sloping shoulders. The back is straight, strong and essentially level. Loins are short, strong with a slight tuck up. His body is sturdily constructed but not too compact. The shoulders of the Boykin Spaniel are sloping. The brisket is well developed but not barreled, extending to the elbow and not too broad or narrow as to interfere with movement. The croup slopes gently to the set of the tail, and the tail-set follows the natural line of the croup. Tail is docked to a length of 3 to 5 inches when fully mature. The tail’s carriage should be carried horizontally or slightly elevated and displays a characteristic lively, merry action, particularly when the dog is on game. A clamped tail (indicating timidity or undependable temperament) is to be faulted as is a tail carried at a right angle to the backline.
The Boykin Spaniel’s shoulders are sloping, clean and muscular. His legs medium in length, straight and well boned but not too short as to handicap for field work or so heavy as to appear clumsy. The pasterns strong with no suggestions of weakness. The toes closely grouped, webbed and well padded. The feet are round, compact, well-arched, of medium size with thick pads. Dewclaws should be removed.
The Boykin Spaniel has well developed hips and thighs with the whole rear assembly showing strength and drive. The hock joint slightly rounded, should not be small or sharp in contour, moderately angulated. Legs from hock joint to foot pad moderate in length, strong and straight with good bone structure. His hocks are parallel.
The Boykin Spaniel has both an undercoat and an outer coat. The coat can range from flat to slightly wavy, with medium length on the outer coat. The undercoat is short and dense. The ears, chest, legs, and belly are equipped with light fringe or feathering. His coat may be trimmed to have a well-groomed appearance and to enhance the dog's natural lines. It is legitimate to trim about the head, throat, ears, and feet to give a smart, functional appearance. A rough, curly, or harsh coat, or no undercoat is to be penalized.
The Boykin Spaniel color is solid—rich liver, brown, or dark chocolate. A small amount of white on the chest or toes is permitted. No other white markings are allowed.
The Boykin Spaniel moves effortlessly with good reach from well laid back shoulders at an angle that permits a long stride that is in balance with the rear quarters for strong driving power. Viewed from the rear the hocks should drive well under the body following on a line with the forelegs neither too widely or too closely spaced. As speed increases it is natural for the legs to fall to a center line of travel. Seen from the side, it should exhibit a good, long forward stride.
Friendly, Eager, Lovable
Sporting
Boykins are medium-sized spaniels, larger and rangier than but more compact than. The breed’s hallmark is a beautiful solid-brown coat. Colors range from a rich liver to a luscious chocolate. The large, feathery ears hang close to the cheeks, setting off an expression of soulful intelligence. Bred to work in the lakes and swamps of their native South Carolina, web-toed Boykins can swim like seals. For years, Boykins were known only to hunters of Carolina waterfowl and wild turkey. But lately, the wider world has discovered that the Boykin is as delightful at home as he is eager at the lake. “They are very, very sweet dogs to have around the family,” a longtime owner says, “but an absolute tiger in the field.”
The Boykin Spaniel is among the handful of AKC breeds wholly developed in the 20th century. Boykin is a small South Carolina community, population approximately 100 souls, named for a founding resident, Lemuel Whitaker “Whit” Boykin. As the Boykin Spaniel origin story goes, around 1900, a man named Alexander White found a little brown spaniel outside the church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he attended services. White gave the young male spaniel the uninspiring name Dumpy. An avid sportsman, White took Dumpy out hunting with his retrievers, and to White’s delight Dumpy showed great enthusiasm and instincts for water retrieves and more than held his own with the pedigreed bird dogs. White sent Dumpy for training to his hunting partner, community patriarch Whit Boykin, who was the area’s leading dog man. Boykin was fascinated with the brown spaniel, who turned out to be as skilled at flushing and retrieving wild turkeys as he was at duck hunting. Boykin built a new breeding program around Dumpy, utilizing crosses to such breeds as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Cocker, English Springer, and American Water spaniels. The result was the upbeat gundog we know today as the Boykin Spaniel. From the breed’s beginning, sportsmen working Carolina’s swampy terrain were enamored with the breed’s intensity, versatility, and effortless balanced gait. The Boykin’s popularity was for years restricted to the immediate area of its birth. Eventually, though, the Boykin caught on with bird hunters around the country, especially on the East Coast. The keys to the breed’s success were its unbridled energy in the field, the ability to work on land or lake, and a sweet, gentle manner at home. South Carolinians have made the Boykin Spaniel their official state dog and celebrate September 1 as Boykin Spaniel Day. The Boykin gained full AKC recognition in 2009, joining the elite assembly of the AKC’s “all-American” dog breeds.
The Boykin Spaniel is medium in size, with emphasis placed on his hunting abilities, characterized by flushing and retrieving, with moderate speed and agility. His pendulous ears, intelligent expression, sturdy build, and friendly wagging tail proclaim him part of the spaniel family.
The Boykin Spaniel should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
The Boykin’s medium-length, wavy coat requires only minimal maintenance. A weekly brushing will help to remove dirt and loose hair and keep him looking his best, and an occasional bath will help to keep him clean-smelling. As with all breeds, the nails should be trimmed regularly, as overly long nails can cause discomfort and problems walking and running.
Boykins have moderate to high energy and require lots of exercise every day. They do best with active people, especially those seeking an athletic partner for activities like hiking, running, or biking. Regular exercise will help keep the Boykin healthy and happy. This can come in the form of long walks and play sessions. The breed also exercises mind and body by participating in obedience, tracking, agility, rally, field events, and other activities that can be enjoyed by both dog and owner.
The Boykin Spaniel is a tough, energetic, and enthusiastic hunting dog, yet gentle and contented in the home. An affectionate and fiercely loyal personality is a hallmark of the breed, and Boykins make wonderful family pets. They thrive on companionship, enjoying the company of children and other dogs. Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended to help ensure that the Boykin grows into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion. Intelligent and eager to please, Boykins are generally easy to train.
Boykin Spaniels are generally healthy dogs, and responsible breeders screen their stock for health conditions such as hip dysplasia, juvenile cataracts, and exercise-induced collapse. The Boykin’s ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection and cleaned when necessary—this can be done with soft gauze and an ear-cleaning solution, which the dog’s breeder or veterinarian can recommend. The teeth should be brushed often, using a toothpaste designed for dogs.
