Plate 118 · The Americas
Boykin Spaniel
博伊金猎犬
“South Carolina's little brown duck dog, from a stray named Dumpy.”
- Origin
- United States
- Camden and the Wateree River swamp, South Carolina
- Region of origin
- Developed around Camden, South Carolina; the marker is the state's reference point. It is South Carolina's state dog.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- From about 1900
- Today
- Gun dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Camden and the Wateree River swamp, South Carolina
A small brown spaniel from South Carolina, light enough to ride in a swamp boat with the duck it brought back.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Flushing wild turkey and retrieving ducks in the Wateree River swamp.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
According to the breed's origin story, around 1900 a small stray spaniel, 'Dumpy', befriended Alexander L. White in Spartanburg. White sent it to his hunting partner Whit Boykin near Camden, who bred from it with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, springer, cocker and American Water Spaniels. A breed society kept a studbook from 1979.
04 · Today
Gun dog · Companion
A hunting dog and family companion.
Personality
- Friendly
- Eager
- Lovable
- Energetic
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Moderate to high energy: long walks, runs, swims or hikes.
- Grooming
- Weekly brushing and regular nail trims.
- Training
- Eager and trainable; thrives on company.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Coat
- Medium-length coat, flat to moderately curly; rich liver, brown or dark chocolate
Field note
It was bred small enough that a hunter could lift dog and duck into the boat together.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Sporting Group
- Also recognized by
- United Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Sporting Group, recognized 2009.
Long known mainly around its South Carolina birthplace, it later caught on with bird hunters across the US, especially on the East Coast. AKC registrations: ranked 64 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Boykin Spaniel — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/boykin-spaniel/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Boykin Spaniel — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boykin_Spaniel
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Dumpy and Alexander L. White, Whit Boykin's breeding, breeds used, Wateree River swamp, state dog of South Carolina, studbook from 1979.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Developed around Camden, South Carolina; the marker is the state's reference point. It is South Carolina's state dog.
