How to Identify a Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin spaniel breed has evolved from a single stray dog found by Alexander White of Spartanburg, South Carolina, with crosses to American water spaniels, springer spaniels, pointers and Chesapeake Bay retrievers. South Carolina has designated the Boykin spaniel its official state dog. This is a relatively new breed that was first discovered in the early 1900s and was only officially recognized as a separate breed in 2005. The Boykin spaniel is primarily used as a fowl hunting dog, and its exceptional sense of smell allows it to find, flush out and retrieve shot birds on both land and water. This is a very companionable breed that makes a happy, energetic pet as well. Here is a guide on how to identify a Boykin spaniel.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Begin by guessing the dog’s size and weight. An average Boykin spaniel is up to a foot and a half tall at the shoulder, considerably larger than its cocker spaniel cousin. The dog should be slightly longer from rear to chest than it is tall. It should weigh between 30 and 40 pounds. The tail will be a thick, docked stub, maybe two or three inches long and always sticking up. The dog should have a narrow, but deep chest that goes down to the elbows of its front legs, which should be considerably thicker boned than the rear legs.

2. Look at the dog’s fur. A Boykin spaniel can only have dark chocolate or dark brown fur. It should be short, curly, and very glossy. Sometimes the dog will have spots of white on the chest or the toes.

3. Examine the dog’s head. It should have a high, rounded skull and a straight muzzle that angles slightly upward at the nose. The ears are characteristic of a spaniel, long floppy, low hanging, and covered with a layer of very curly fur. The most identifying feature of a Boykin spaniel is the eye color. They should be a yellowy-amber that no other breed possesses. If the dog matches this description then it’s a Boykin spaniel.

Tips & Warnings

• If keeping a Boykin spaniel as a pet, it is important to give the dog a job to do daily as this animal is very energetic and likes to work. You should also take them on very long walks at least once a day. Don’t let them off their leashes though, because if they catch an interesting scent they will follow it and ignore your commands to return.
• They will find ways to entertain themselves if not provided by their owner and can be very destructive when bored or when their primal instinct to walk has not been fulfilled. This breed absolutely loves to swim and will jump into a pool or pond whenever it gets the chance, the only problem is they are prone to ear infections. So they should be dried thoroughly afterward.

Resources

• List of reliable Boykin spaniel breeders