Imagine a hyperactive young child, toddler-age, with medium length brown curly hair. Now imagine that this child walks on all fours, has golden eyes, and speaks to you only with barks and snorts. Sounds kind of odd, right? Well, now imagine that this child is a dog. Congratulations, you've just pictured a Boykin Spaniel! With its curly, chocolate colored coat, its beyond energetic personality, and those lustrous eyes, the Boykin is unlike any other breed that exists. They have a personality that abounds in energy, and their cheerful disposition is contagious. Chances are, if you're from the southern part of the United States, you've heard of this breed. If you haven't, then strap yourself in, because you're about to read all about the Boykin.
The Boykin Spaniel breed came into being in the early 1900s, and was developed by Lemuel Whitaker Boykin near the Camden, South Carolina area. The origin of the breed can be traced back to a small spaniel type dog, named "Dumpy", that Boykin's friend Alexander L. White found while walking to a church one day. The dog caught the attention of White, and he liked it, so he took it home. The dog showed some ability to retrieve, so White sent Dumpy to Boykin, and he began breeding the little brown dogs we know today (that's actually one of their nicknames, the "Little Brown Dog"). A few other breeds, such as the Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, and the American Water Spaniel are thought to have been "mixed in" while the breed was being founded.
The Boykin is a fairly small breed, and is about the size of the English Cocker Spaniel. My Boykin, Roan (pronounced "Row-en"), weighs about 29 pounds and is around 14 inches at the withers. She's fairly small for her breed, and my family thinks that she might've been the smallest in her litter. Generally, males weigh about 30-40 pounds, and their height tends to be around 15.5-18 inches. Females weigh approximately 25-35 pounds and their height is about 14-16.5 inches. However, not all Boykins are these sizes, and some may be larger or smaller and not conform to the breed standard. Despite these weight and height differences between the two sexes, most Boykins tend to have some similar physical characteristics. For starters, they all have some shade of brown as their coat color; this brown can range from a lighter liver color to a deep, chocolate hue. Some Boykins may also have slight patches of white on their chest. Boykins also have piercing, amber eyes. While most of these dogs tend to have golden-yellow tones for their eye color, I have seen some that have had more orange-yellow eyes. Boykins also have some type of wave in their coat, and can range from being slightly wavy to curled; for this reason, and the fact that they can be used to hunt in marshy territories, they have been given the nickname of the "swamp poodle".
Personality wise, Boykins are one of the friendliest breeds I've ever encountered; I've seen quite a few, and I haven't met an aggressive Boykin yet. This doesn't mean that they won't growl or bark if they sense danger; my little pup will bark at new people for a few minutes if she does not feel comfortable with them. After feeling comfortable around a new person, she warms right up to them and acts like they're a member of the family.
Continuing this talk of personality, most Boykins tend to be very loyal, especially so since they are bred to hunt and have to follow commands down to a T. They are also quick learners, which I can personally vouch for. My little pup learned her name, how to sit, and how to stay within the first few weeks of her being with my family. Whether or not a Boykin is trained to hunt is up to the owner; my Boykin was not raised to be a gun dog, and because of this she is scared of loud noises.
All in all, Boykins are a medium-sized, spunky breed with a big heart and a personality to match. They're charming, happy, and one of the best companions you could ever ask for. If you ever end up with a Boykin, you've acquired a great companion who will be loyal to you until the end of their days.
