09/06/2026
Daily walks with Georgia 🤙
Boykin Spaniel ⬇️
South Carolina’s official state dog is the Boykin Spaniel. A friendly, medium-sized "little brown dog" known for being an exceptional hunting companion and a loving family pet.
Origins and History
Named after a trainer: The breed takes its name from L.W. "Whit" Boykin, a hunter and trainer from Camden, South Carolina, who helped develop the breed in the early 1900s.
Started with a stray: The entire lineage began when a banker named Alexander White found a stray little brown dog named "Dumpy" in 1905 and brought him to Whit Boykin for training and breeding.
Built for small boats: Hunters along South Carolina's Wateree River needed a versatile retriever that was small enough not to "rock the boat" or crowd narrow swamp skiffs packed with gear.
Unique Physical Traits
Webbed toes: They have webbed feet that make them phenomenal, powerful swimmers in lakes, rivers, and marshes.
Rich chocolate coat: Their distinct, medium-length coats come in solid rich liver brown, dark chocolate, or sun-bleached golden-brown shades.
Compact size: Adults typically weigh between 25 and 40 pounds and stand around 14 to 18 inches tall.
Fun Facts & Recognition
Official holiday: South Carolina celebrates September 1st as official Boykin Spaniel Day, a date chosen to coincide with the start of dove hunting season.
State designation: The state legislature officially named the Boykin Spaniel as South Carolina's state dog in 1985.
The ultimate multi-tasker: Fanciers love to say a Boykin is "a hunting dog that can't be spoiled by a mother's love"—meaning they can hunt waterfowl or wild turkeys in the morning and happily curl up on the living room couch at night.
