Boykin Spaniel Dog Breed

The Boykin Spaniel was and always has been a gun dog whose other hunting aspects are considerable, and yet the breed was also produced to be a family companion. While they are wonderful family pets, their amiable personalities is one of the facts that makes them poor guard dogs and even less-reliable watchdogs. On the other hand, they are perfectly suited for households with kids, elderly residents, and people with disabilities. They are great dogs for first-time families as they have few problems with inexperienced dog owners-to be.

Below is a list of many pros and cons of Boykin Spaniels:

The Boykin Spaniel is a sharp, versatile, and amicable dog whose many talents make this breed a remarkable one whether in the field, at home, or on the show floor. They were bred to be comfortable in the field, at work, and in the home. As this is a recent breed that remains little known, however, seeking out the dogs 101 on Boykins may require some work. Below is some information on the breed.

For hunters, these are admirable gun dogs who can track, flush, retrieve and so much more. Despite their humble beginnings in the post-Reconstruction Deep South, these dogs were quickly bred with breeds that contributed greatly to their brains, brawn, and personality. They can be trained to handle most any hunting situation as well as rescue work.

Those who know Boykins will know that these dogs, while tracking, have a habit of hesitating before flushing game. They tend to go at a pace that is not too fast but can be challenging for some hunters.

If you are not a hunter who goes out daily or nearly so, you will need a very active lifestyle to even begin attempting to tire out a Boykin Spaniel. These dogs can go pretty much all day long, and a single, short daily walk will not even begin to be enough. They also need plenty of mental stimulation too, or you will quickly have a very anxious dog on your hands.

The Boykin Spaniel is a regional breed from South Carolina and in particular, from Spartanburg. The inadvertent founding stock for this extremely talented "companionable gun dog," as the breed is colloquially known, was allegedly discovered sometime in the latter half of first decade of the 20th century.

The man acknowledged as having "discovered" of this dog's predecessor was a banker named Alexander White. An apparently providential walk home from church one Sunday in Spartanburg sparked the relationship. The little stray was said to have started following White, and White took a liking to the dog he soon named "Dumpy." When Dumpy showed signs of being a retriever, White gifted the mutt to to his friend and hunting partner, Whit Boykin. Boykin, being an expert on gun dogs, quickly recognized Dumpy's gifts and in no time trained the dog to reveal his full array of talents for hunting turkey, retrieving waterfowl and more.

The first dam to be bred with Dumpy was another unknown mutt which Boykin found in a train station and named "Singo." It was with these two dogs that the foundation stock was created and developed. Further breeding was reported to have included American Water Spaniels, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, and Springer Spaniels. Whatever the breeds and methods were used to ultimately produce the "Boykin Spaniel," the end result was clearly successful.

It didn't take long for news of this spectacular little gun dog breed to be sought out by locals far and wide. Nevertheless, it took several decades before any formal organization took hold regarding the breed's recognition. In 1970, attempts to establish registry were begun. By 1977, the Boykin Spaniel Society was formed. In 1985, the Boykin became the State Dog of South Carolina. In 2009, the American Kennel Club (AKC) formally recognized the breed and categorized the breed as a Spaniel.

There are no variations nor have there ever been of the this breed. There is basically just one coat color, hair length, etc. If someone claims to have a "miniature Boykin Spaniel" or some other variety — size or otherwise — then it is almost assuredly not a Boykin but a hybrid that may merely have a Boykin as one of the two or more dogs used to produce that dog.

In time, there may be varietals produced, but that will take a very long time. a mixed breed will have to first occur, and then several generations will have to pass before there is even the possibility of even an informal recognition let alone formal acknowledgement by any of the big kennel clubs.

The Boykin Spaniel temperament is known to anyone who's had Spaniels: friendly, friendly, and friendly! Nearly no one can instantly become a friend, an these extroverted dogs can never have enough of them!

Training is very easy, and harsh methods are a no-no. While some patience is required, you will churn through new things to teach a Boykin very easily so long as there is no shouting or worse reactions during the lessons. Repetition is not needed, and if that does become the case, it's best to move on to something new. One of the Boykin Spaniel characteristics is that they get bored easily. You can always return to an unfinished bit of training later so as to not impair this dog's pleasant personality.

Animated and joyful, Boykin Spaniels are dogs that are nevertheless all business when hunting. Once home, however, they are great family companions who will welcome play time and visiting friends.

Boykin Spaniels don't have many health problems, but there are some significant concerns. The most frequent one, hip dysplasia, is stated to have an alarmingly high incidence rate no less than 30% even as it may be declining in frequency.

While hip dysplasia may be on the wane in this breed, a new concern was discovered in 2010: Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC). A few years later, in 2013, Collie Eye Anomaly was found in Boykins. Yet another ailment was added year later: Degenerative Myelopathy.

Here are many of the health problems of Boykins:

• Hypothyroidism
• Heart problems
• Elbow dysplasia
• Patella luxation
• Endocrine disorders
• Cushing's Syndrome
• Inherited heart disease

Despite the old and new issues, Boykin Spaniels have an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.