Boykin Spaniel Stats:
Just after the turn of the 20th century, Alexander White of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was attending Sunday services at church. As he was leaving, he saw a small brown spaniel wandering about and decided to take the tyke home as a pet for his family. The dog, a male, turned out to have some hunting aptitude and was later sent to White's hunting partner, L. Whitaker Boykin, of the Boykin community just outside Camden (South Carolina). With Boykin's schooling, the former stray became a first-rate turkey dog and waterfowl retriever. "Dumpy" was bred to various spaniel bitches who had similar aptitudes, and the little stray became the keystone sire of the Boykin Spaniel family history. Other spaniels, a Springer and an American Water Spaniel, Pointers and Chessies contributed to the breed make-up.
First a turkey dog, the Boykin dog was required to stay down and quiet in the blind while the hunter called the fowl; after the shot, the dog had to be ready to retrieve. The little spaniel fit "just right" into the small boats used on the Wateree River Swamp. As the century progressed, the little southern spaniel adapted well to small water and land birds, in dove hunting and duck shooting. The brown coloring camouflaged him in the woods, and his shortened tail, even if wagged in anticipation, made no sound in the underbrush to give the hunters away.
His area of origin for many years was a winter resort for northerners escaping the cold. Many of these vacationers saw the potential of these local dogs and took one or more home. Today he is used by hunters all along the Atlantic seaboard, with the majority of his admirers still in South Carolina. His history is entwined with that of his state of origin, and South Carolina has designated the Boykin Spaniel its official state dog.
In 1977, several lovers of this rare breed, concerned about indiscriminate breeding, formed the Boykin Spaniel Society to promote and foster him. Among the society's founding members were three descendants of Whit Boykin! They sponsor a field trial and festivities each year in South Carolina for the breed and its fanciers. His prowess is such that the retired head of AKC's Field Trials Department, Ham Rowen, owns a Boykin Spaniel.
The Boykin Spaniel is larger than the Cocker, with a smaller, higher set ear. He has considerably less hair and a straighter muzzle. Some coats may be a bit more curly than others, but the practical hunter knows these variations are inevitable and matter little as long as the dog has the abilities. He is a great swimmer and, because of his size, "easy to get in and out of a boat." Most owners report that each of these dogs has a unique personality and an enthusiastic field ability seldom matched by other dogs. His temperament is typically spaniel: docile, pleasant and obedient. Like all gun dogs, the Boykin Spaniel does need abundant exercise, taken care of by long walks on leash or by romping with children in a large yard.
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