Where the Boykin Spaniel came from
The Boykin Spaniel comes from South Carolina. Around 1900, a small stray spaniel-type dog was said to have befriended banker Alexander L. White in Spartanburg. White sent the dog, called Dumpy, to his friend Lemuel Whitaker Boykin near Camden, who developed a hunting dog for wild turkeys and ducks in the swamps.
The dogs had to be small enough to ride in a boat. Several breeds are said to have been used, including spaniels, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the American Water Spaniel. The Boykin Spaniel Society formed in 1977, and the United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1985.
The AKC recognized the Boykin Spaniel in 2009. The Boykin is the state dog of South Carolina. They are friendly, eager to please family dogs.
- About 1900 A stray spaniel-type dog, later called Dumpy, is said to begin the breed in Spartanburg, South Carolina
- 1977 The Boykin Spaniel Society is formed
- 1985 The United Kennel Club recognizes the breed
- 2009 AKC recognizes the Boykin Spaniel
The job a Boykin Spaniel was bred for
Boykins hunted turkeys, ducks, doves and other birds from small boats in warm swamp country. That is why many love water, retrieve eagerly and need plenty of exercise. They are often called the dog that does not rock the boat.
What you may see at home
Friendly, busy, mouthy, loves water, follows people from room to room.
Give them: Retrieve games, swimming, scent work, and daily exercise with a job.
Sports that fit a Boykin Spaniel
- Hunt tests. Spaniel hunt tests are open to the breed
- Dock diving. Loves water and retrieving
- Scent work. Uses a good nose and gives focus
- Agility. Athletic and eager to please
- Rally. Fun teamwork with lots of rewards
Training tips for a Boykin Spaniel
- Use upbeat, reward based training. Boykins are eager to please.
- Teach a calm greeting and a settle. They are friendly and busy.
- Build recall with high value rewards before off-leash time.
- Give daily retrieve games with rules and a nose job.
Body and health
Medium size and sturdy. Exercise induced collapse has been found in the breed, and there is a DNA test, so ask breeders for results. Hip and eye problems are also known.
Fun fact. The Boykin Spaniel is the official state dog of South Carolina.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Boykin Spaniel is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.