Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel is the state dog of South Carolina, and its story is as local as that suggests. In the early twentieth century, hunters on the Wateree River swamps wanted a dog small enough to ride in a narrow boat without tipping it, yet keen and tough enough to retrieve ducks from cold water and flush wild turkey. They developed it from a stray spaniel-type dog, later mixing in Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel and American Water Spaniel blood. The result is a compact, liver-coloured spaniel with a big heart and an even bigger enthusiasm for water.

Outside the American South, the breed is still rare. In the UK it is not recognised by the Kennel Club, so you may need to look abroad for a breeder. Yet search interest is high, mainly from people who have met one and want to know if the friendliness is typical. The short answer is yes.

Temperament is the breed's strongest selling point. Boykins are cheerful, affectionate and eager to please, typically loving everybody they meet. They are excellent with children, generally easy with other dogs and, raised with them, often fine with cats. Most are not big barkers, and they tend to be soft in temperament, responding best to gentle, reward-based training. Harsh handling makes them anxious, while praise and a ball can make them do almost anything.

The flip side is that they are working gundogs with real energy. Most adults need an hour to ninety minutes of exercise a day, and the best kind involves running, retrieving and swimming. A Boykin with a lake nearby is a very happy dog. Without enough activity, they can become restless, chewing or digging out of boredom. They also do not love being alone for long stretches; this is a dog bred to work at its handler's side, and it wants company.

Training is generally easy and fun. They excel at retrieving work, obedience, agility and dock diving, and many owners find a gundog training class gives the dog a purpose. Recall is usually good, though a strong nose and love of birds mean young dogs can get distracted. Teach a reliable recall early, and use a long line in areas with wildlife.

The coat is medium-length and can range from flat to quite curly, always in shades of liver or chocolate. It is designed to shed water, but it collects burrs, mud and pond weed, and the feathering on the ears, legs and belly mats if ignored. Brush two or three times a week, check for grass seeds after walks and tidy the feathering every few months. Ears are the most important part of the routine: long, heavy, hairy ears plus frequent swimming make ear infections common. Dry the ears after every swim and check them weekly.

Health is reasonably good, but there are known problems. Hip dysplasia is the biggest concern; the breed has one of the higher rates of hip dysplasia in OFA records, so insist on hip scores for both parents. Exercise-induced collapse, a genetic condition that causes weakness after intense activity, has a DNA test. Collie eye anomaly, degenerative myelopathy and progressive retinal atrophy also occur, and good breeders test for them. Patellar luxation, pulmonic stenosis heart murmurs and ear infections round out the list. Ask for written results and talk to the breeder about longevity in their lines.

Weight control deserves a mention too. Boykins love food almost as much as water, and a few extra kilograms put real strain on hips that may already be vulnerable. Measure meals, count training treats as part of the daily ration and check that you can feel the ribs under a light layer of cover.

For a family, a Boykin is often an ideal size: big enough to hike and play properly, small enough to fit in a car, a modest house and a busy life. It suits active families who enjoy weekends outdoors, people who like walking near water, and anyone wanting a sociable, kind dog that gets on with everyone. It is less suited to sedentary homes, very tidy owners who dislike wet dogs, or anyone out at work all day.

Choose your breeder carefully, plan for ear and coat care, and budget for plenty of towels. In return you will have one of the friendliest, most cheerful gundogs there is, and almost certainly a dog that cannot walk past a puddle.