| The Boykin Spaniel is a dog that is considered to be | | | | white marking on the chest but white is not allowed |
| a truly American breed developed in South Carolina, | | | | anywhere else.This Spaniel is quite intelligent and |
| using stock from such breeds as the Chesapeake | | | | eager to please, making a good family pet and all |
| Bay Retriever, the Springer Spaniel, the Cocker | | | | around pleasant dog, small enough to be an urban |
| Spaniel and the American Water Spaniel. The breed is | | | | dweller but because of his natural hunting inclination |
| indeed an "american invention" bred for a strange but | | | | he of course needs plenty of exercise and preferably |
| specific purpose in the early 1900s. The hunters of | | | | should be used as a hunting dog when possible. He is |
| South Carolina hunted the swamplands of the | | | | generally friendly to other dogs and good with |
| Wateree river and due to the scarcity of roads in | | | | children. There are hunters who have a belief, often |
| this wild country, the hunters liked to use a style of | | | | erroneous, that the hunting dog will not make a good |
| boat that could be taken apart and put into pieces in | | | | indoor dog and this may be true of some of the |
| the back of the wagon or carted overland across | | | | larger more active hunting dogs, but the Boykin |
| stretches of wilderness. They needed a hunting and | | | | Spaniel is not only small enough to live comfortably as |
| retrieving dog that was small enough to fit in this | | | | a "house pet" but is also very eager to please, |
| small boat, along with all the guns and other gear . | | | | affectionate and indeed needful of human |
| The Boykin was developed to fit this purpose and | | | | companionship and will bond to family members of all |
| later the dog also became popular as a dove hunter . | | | | ages.The Boykin is generally healthy, although there |
| The slogan of the American Boykin Spaniel Club is | | | | needs to be special attention paid to the eyes if the |
| "the dog that doesn't rock the boat".The Boykin | | | | dog is bred, for the "pop eye" can be a problem. |
| Spaniel is pictured as the spaniel on the 1988 South | | | | Dogs with health clearances for hip and elbow |
| Carolina duck stamp designed by Jim Killen, the | | | | dysplasia and eye clearances are the only ones that |
| famous wildlife artist. The Boykin appears to be very | | | | should be used for breeding. Also epilepsy is rare but |
| similar to the Field Spaniel. It is a small dog, 30-40 | | | | can be a problem.The Boykin Spaniel is a member of |
| pounds, with an eager disposition and a strong | | | | the F.S.S. (Foundation Stock Service) registry of the |
| instinct to hunt and to retrieve on both land and | | | | American Kennel Club, in other words, it is a breed |
| water. He is a good swimmer and is small enough to | | | | which may be considered for admittance eventually |
| work through heavy underbrush easily. His coat is of | | | | into the A.K.C., but meanwhile the F.S.S. provides an |
| medium length and can be wavy or flat, it is a single | | | | avenue for accurate record keeping of the stud |
| coat of a solid brown or liver. There may be a small | | | | records of the breed. |