Boykin Spaniel 

What Does a Boykin Spaniel Look Like?

The Boykin Spaniel is a medium-sized retriever and gundog from the USA. Its build is compact and slightly rectangular. Its ears hang down at the sides.

A distinctive feature is the webbing between its toes. This makes the Boykin Spaniel an excellent swimmer, which is particularly useful when hunting in water.

Coat and Colours

The Boykin Spaniel’s coat is medium-length and usually wavy – straight hair is very rare. Beneath the top coat lies a short undercoat, which makes this breed weather-resistant.

Another characteristic of the breed is its brown coat, which is permitted in various shades. A white patch on the chest is allowed.

How Big and Heavy Is a Boykin Spaniel?

As with many dog breeds, size and weight depend on sex. Males reach a shoulder height of 39 to 46 centimetres and weigh between 13 and 18 kilograms. Females grow to 36 to 42 centimetres and weigh between 11 and 16 kilograms.

Character: A Hunter with a Keen Nose

As a gundog, the Boykin Spaniel loves to keep its nose to the ground. On walks, it carefully observes its surroundings and attentively follows scents.

If a trail leads your dog into the water, that’s no problem either. Thanks to its impressive stamina, your Boykin Spaniel can accompany you outdoors for hours on end.

Brains to Match

This keen nose isn’t just athletic – it’s clever too. That means your dog will also act independently, so starting command training early is very important.

With the right know-how, patience and visits to a dog training school, this should not be a problem.

Is the Boykin Spaniel a Family Dog?

The Boykin Spaniel generally has a friendly nature. It shows this not only towards other dogs, but also towards children and people.

Living with cats can be challenging. Only if you get your dog used to cats from an early age can they live together harmoniously.

Keeping and Training a Boykin Spaniel

Boykin Spaniels are full of energy and therefore need several hours of exercise and activity every day. To meet this need, you can not only take your dog for walks, but also go jogging, go hiking and go cycling.

Taking Part in Dog Sports Together

Another great way to keep your active four-legged friend busy is through dog sports. These not only require energy, but also stimulate the mind. How about trying Degility or mantrailing?

Nutrition: What Does a Boykin Spaniel Eat?

High-quality dog food is the foundation of good canine health. Make sure you choose premium-quality food and that the ration is balanced and appropriate for the species.

Which feeding method (dry food or wet food, BARF, etc.) you choose depends on individual factors and preferences.

In our Dog Nutrition section, you’ll find more information about feeding your dog correctly.

Avoiding Underweight and Overweight

Many dogs eat too much and exercise too little. Others are very active and don’t take in enough energy.

When calculating the amount of food, it is therefore important to consider your dog’s activity level and other factors in order to avoid obesity or nutrient deficiencies.

An Easy-Care Companion

Your Boykin’s coat does not require frequent grooming. It is enough to carry out coat care once a week and comb the coat with a brush.

If your dog gets very dirty after a walk, you can bathe.

Caring for the Rest of the Body

Regardless of the breed, you should trim your dog’s claws regularly.

Grooming also includes checking the eyes and ears as well as regular dental care. If these areas are inflamed, you should consult a vet.

Health: How Long Does a Boykin Spaniel Live?

With an average life expectancy of 14 years or more, the Boykin Spaniel reaches a comparatively old age.

To help your dog stay as healthy as possible and live a long life, you should follow all advice on species-appropriate care and nutrition.

Typical Diseases in the Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel is generally considered a healthy breed. Nevertheless, dogs may suffer from certain conditions that breeders can screen for with specific tests:

• Cataracts
• Hip dysplasia (HD)
• Exercise-induced collapse (EIC)

History: Where Does the Boykin Spaniel Come From?

The breed takes its name from the community of “Boykin” in South Carolina, USA. Around 1900, Mr Alexander White is said to have found a small brown Spaniel outside a church in Spartanburg (South Carolina) – he named him “Dumpy”.

The Path to Hunting

As Mr White was a keen sportsman, he took the young Dumpy hunting with his other retrievers. Dumpy quickly showed great interest in hunting and had excellent hunting instincts.

His new dog particularly excelled at retrieving in water. It wasn’t long before White decided to have Dumpy trained for hunting by his hunting partner Whit Boykin.

The Beginnings of Breeding

During training, Boykin soon realised that Dumpy was a born hunter. He therefore set up a breeding programme using this dog, crossing Dumpy with the following breeds:

• American Water Spaniel
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever
• Cocker Spaniel
• English Springer Spaniel

From Dumpy to a New Breed

Gradually, the various crosses produced hunting dogs that seemed made for the job.

These Boykin Spaniels quickly became popular and were used by residents for work in the swampy areas of the Carolinas.

Recognition of the Breed

The Boykin Spaniel has not yet been recognised as an independent breed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Instead, the breed has been recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 2009 and is considered the official State Dog of South Carolina.

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Purchase: Where Can I Find a Boykin Spaniel?

If you would like to buy a pedigree Boykin Spaniel, you should contact a reputable breeder in good time. Depending on where you live, finding a responsible breeder may take some time.

Note: Of course, you can also enquire at your local animal rescue centre to see whether a suitable dog is available for adoption. Crossbreeds are more commonly found.

Boykin Spaniel profile

Special features:	The Boykin Spaniel is known for its friendly nature, which makes it an ideal family dog. It is also perfectly suited to hunting, whether on land or in water.
Character:	Friendly, clever, strong hunting instinct
Shoulder height:	39–45 cm (male), 35–41 cm (female)
Weight:	15–20 kg (male), 11–16 kg (female)
Coat:	Medium-length, usually wavy, dense undercoat, brown (white chest patch permitted)
Grooming:	Weekly brushing, regular checks of eyes, ears and teeth
Exercise:	High need for exercise
Suitable for first-time owners:	No
Barking:	Barks frequently
Life expectancy:	14 years
Common health issues:	Various conditions possible (hip dysplasia, cataracts, etc.)
FCIgroup:	Not recognised
Origin: (Country of origin / Region)	South Carolina (USA)