Tell me about Boykin Spaniels

[skittledoo]

I'm still planning to get my Ibizan hopefully in a few years, but I'm researching into a few breeds that my husband might be interested in for when we get his dog. He's really into hunting birds (mainly turkey) and he also hunts large game as well (whitetail deer, etc).

I don't know any dog breeds that aid necessarily in deer hunting or anything, but I've heard that Boykin Spaniels are good bird dogs and can be used for hunting turkey as well as smaller birds.

Thing is... I don't really know much about them and while I can do research online about them and I have been, I'm also interested in hearing other people's takes on the breed if anyone here is familiar with them at all.

There are numerous dogs he mentions being interested in, hunting dogs and non hunting... but I know he's going to want to take his dog hunting with him... he talks about it a lot. I know he'd prefer a dog that's not super huge and I know Boykins are on the smaller side... though I'm not exactly sure what they do exactly when they help hunt turkey.

I'm also curious to know more about how they are around other dogs generally, with strangers, kids, stuff like that. I've been looking at quite a few different gun dog breeds for Josh (we're not getting another dog right now fyi), and I feel like I've heard of Boykin Spaniels before, but never thought to actually look into this specific breed until now. Really don't know much about them at all.

 

[stardogs]

I've met four - all were very happy dogs, playful with other dogs and people, 3 had pretty moderate energy levels, the 4th was an adolescent male who was busy busy busy. All four were not the brightest crayons in the box, but biddable and loved doing stuff with their owners.

 

[jess2416]

I LOVE them...

they are on my list of must haves

 

[CharlieDog]

S

I've met four - all were very happy dogs, playful with other dogs and people, 3 had pretty moderate energy levels, the 4th was an adolescent male who was busy busy busy. All four were not the brightest crayons in the box, but biddable and loved doing stuff with their owners.

This. I've met quite a few, and the ones I've met have all been "busy" dogs. Also, they all had pretty bad SA as puppies.

 

[StillandSilent]

I've only known three, so take this with a grain of salt, but every one of them was a horrendous humper. Different families, two fixed males and one unfixed female, but every time I saw them it was humpity humpity humpity.

Gorgeous, though, and quite loving in the nonhumpy way as well.

 

[Pops2]

Beau was the size of a springer. he was a gift from another Marine who was single & had lost his place to keep him. when let out to potty, he would run to the bushes overgrowing the fence & stick his rear into them & go. he would find the least wet way of going after the training dummy, but went balls out on real ducks. very people oriented but would alert on people approaching the door. very good w/kids, very patient & tolerant of their roughness. not a fight picker but not inclined to take any crap either. VERY athletic & active except when he was laying in front of the couch for hours. very much a clown except when he was serious. never could break him from running the neighbohood cats. i'd have another in a heart beat.
dogs for turkey is only legal in some southern states that have a fall season. what they do is work the wind looking for a flock of turkeys. when he finds a flock the dog runs in & scatters it. then the hunter sits down w/ the dog next to him (often under a light blanket) & starts calling the flock back together until he gets a shot.

 

[Saeleofu]

I've met one. He's ancient, aggressive, and has a buttload of health issues. I HATE when he comes to board, because it means not being able to pill him, not being able to handle him, stomping in circles through his poop overnight, etc. But the biggest problems with him is he's aggressive. You can't even touch him or he'll snap. It's a struggle getting a leash off of him.