The Boykin Spaniel is a member of the spaniel group and is a medium sized bird dog. It is believed to have originated in South Carolina in the early 1900s and is often used to hunt wild turkeys.
History of the Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel is named after Whit Boykin who named the breed after a single dog that was brought to him in the early 1900s. Boykin noticed that the dog that appeared to be a Spaniel, was an excellent hunter. He bred the dog with a female dog and the result was a breed of dog that appeared to be adept at hunting. He named the breed the Boykin Spaniel and other hunters began breeding their gun dogs with the Boykin Breed. The Boykin Spaniel was not recognized by the AKC until 2005, after many years of various clubs trying unsuccessfully to get the breed registered. Over the years, the Boykin Spaniel became a distinct breed of gun dog that excelled at tracking, rallying and proved to be a very agile dog. The breed is allowed to participate in AKC hunting tests, but is not fully registered with the AKC, although this is expected within 5 years.
Appearance of the Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel resembles the English Cocker Spaniel with some differences. The Boykin Spaniel is larger than the Cocker Spaniel breed with the average male weighing between 30 to 40 pounds and being between 15 ½ inches to 18 inches in height. Female Boykin Spaniels are slightly smaller than males. The Boykin Spaniel has a chocolate colored coat that can also come in liver color. It is small enough to take on a hunting trip where it can retain balance. It is better suited for a warm climate and it is advisable to have the dog wear a neoprene jacket if hunting in a cold climate.
Use of the Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel is a natural hunting dog that works well with upland hunting. It will naturally be able to quarter and flush game but must work within gun range of the hunter. In warm water, the Boykin Spaniel is ideal for duck hunting as this breed loves water and can easily swim. In order to make sure that the coat of the dog is conditioned for water fowl hunting and prevent the long coat from matting.
Because it is so agile, it is adaptable for various types of hunting. In addition to being an excellent hunter, the Boykin Spaniel is also a very obedient dog. Many hunters enjoy using the Boykin Spaniel as a hunting companion because they are not only instinctive hunters when it comes to flushing out game, but also because they are easy to train. Hey have a desire to please and an easy going temperament.
The Boykin Spaniel is a breed of gun dog popular for use in the south, but is also a diligent hunting companion in the north with proper precautions. Hunters who hunt in cold weather may find that the Boykin Spaniel is unsuited for this task and they are much more popular as hunting companions in the south.
Because this breed is very lively, they do require exercise on a daily basis and proper grooming to keep their long coat from getting matted. They can get along well with members of the family and are good companions for the home as they prefer to be within a family environment.
