Breed Standard for the Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel

Provided by the Boykin Spaniel Club

HISTORY Breed history states that sometime after the turn of the (20th) century, a small dog was found wandering near a Methodist church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. One of the people attending the services there, a Mr. Alexander L. White, took the dog home as a pet. The dog apparently displayed some hunting aptitude so Mr. White sent the dog to be trained by his hunting partner, Mr. L. Whitaker Boykin of the Boykin community just outside of Camden, South Carolina. With this training, the little stray developed into a superb turkey dog and waterfowl retriever.

This dog, said to be a male, was the forerunner of all Boykin Spaniels in existence today. Early ancestors of this breed are thought to be the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel and the American Water Spaniel.

The private registry for the Boykin Spaniel breed began in 1977 under the name of the Boykin Spaniel Society.

On April 20, 1984 the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Commission endorsed the Boykin Spaniel as South Carolina's state dog. Governor Richard W. Riley proclaimed September 1, 1984, the first day of dove hunting season, as Boykin Spaniel Day. On March 26, 1985, Governor Riley signed into law the act making the Boykin Spaniel the official South Carolina state dog.

The Boykin Spaniel was recognized as a breed apart from any other spaniel by the United Kennel Club in 1985.The American Kennel Club began a foundation stock service for the Boykin Spaniel in 1998. Participation in the Foundation Stock Service does not imply AKC accreditation. The Boykin Spaniel remains in the rare breed classification with the AKC.