Boykin Spaniels

stonekold · Postby **stonekold** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 3:08 pm

Does anyone here hunt with Boykins? Just wondering. I think they are amazing lil dogs. I was just wondering, as small as they are, are they ok to retrieve geese? I was raised on labs and have fond memories of all labs I have owned, but Boykins (at least the ones I've been around) seem to have a never give up attitude.

CRAWDUCK · Postby **CRAWDUCK** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 3:50 pm

I've read alot of good things about them and I know there is a man in Madison that raises and trains them. I don't know anyone personally that has one.

Boykin · Postby **Boykin** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 6:13 pm

I have a Boykin and and have hunted with him for 6 years now. To me me they are great, and I would recommend one to anyone thinking about getting a dog. They are easy to train, great with kids and will do everything in there power to please you. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Postby **judge jb** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 7:39 pm

those little dogs were originated in South Carolina.... you either love them or you have no place for them in your huntin... go to www.duckcental.com and go to the S.C. discussion forum and get their opinion.... they are another dedicated duck dog.....

judge jb

Postby **judge jb** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 8:02 pm

try www.duckcentral.com

stonekold · Postby **stonekold** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 10:18 pm

I currently own a Boykin, and am thinking about another. I see all kinds of posts about labs, I was wondering if anyone had Boykins. Boykin, SC is about 25 miles from here, and the Boykin is the SC state dog.

Boykin · Postby **Boykin** » Sun Dec 30, 2001 10:29 pm

I got JEB Stuart when I lived in Charleston, and the Judge is right about peoples hunting situations and if a Boykin is suited for them or not. I have not found anything down here that JEB can not handle and he is better than a Lab riding on a 4 wheeler and in the boat. But if I were hunting geese all the time I would go with a Lab.

HARLEY · Postby **HARLEY** » Mon Dec 31, 2001 12:13 am

I run alot of trials and hunt tests, starting to see more boykins every year. From what the owners tell me, (and what I see) they are intelligent dogs with alot of desire - BUT when that water gets cold they dont like gettin in it!!!

Boykin · Postby **Boykin** » Mon Dec 31, 2001 8:17 am

I've never had mine balk at not going in cold water. And I have hunted with people whose Labs did'nt like cold water either.

sondance · Postby **sondance** » Mon Dec 31, 2001 10:28 am

Boykins are awesome dogs. The guy I bought my Springers from also raised Boykins. We used to do a lot of pickups at tower shoots on pheasants. Those little brown dogs could hang with everything there. I have seen them used extensively in water. I have even seen a Boykin make sea duck retrieves in the Pamlico Sound. To be honest if you are hunting big rivers, the open gulf, or geese all the time a chessie or big lab is what you need. But, if you are shooting ducks in fields, sloughs, streams, etc... a Boykin works great. I use springers exclusively and they can handle anything here as well as anything out there. The great thing about these dogs is there small size and enthusiasm. For regular ole duck hunting a boykin would make a great choice.

goosebruce · Postby **goosebruce** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 4:39 pm

Not to step on toes, or hurt anyones feelings.... You're talking about a dog that may be able to do what you want.... Realize its a lot tougher row to hoe asking a boykin to do a labs job. You very well might end up with a great boykin, and that wont hold a candle to an average lab. If your a boykin person, and want to hunt one, don't let anyone stop you. But if your a hunter, and want a dog, bucking tradational wisedom for the chance to have something weird, is a hell of a lot more work than you think.
Got a friend that has a nova scotia duck toller. And its a fine duck toller. Best one Ive ever seen (only one, but thats besides the point). For the work that guy has in the dog, he could have a lab with every hunt test title and be able to back a boat down a ramp for you. Is he wrong? No, of course not, cause he wanted a toller. Now he's decided to be serious about hunt tests, and has a new lab puppy. Cause you need a lab to be a lab, period.
Harley what do you run man? Any HRC? travis

Postby **GulfCoast** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 6:02 pm

Or you could get a chessie and have a dog that will retrieve your ducks, beat up yer kids friends, pinch yer wife and hold up liquor stores for ya! [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Boykin · Postby **Boykin** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 9:28 pm

Well GB I hope mine won't hold up to an average Lab. That way I can spend more time hunting than chasing and bitching at the dog. And obviously you have never really worked with a Boykin cause they are alot easier to train than Labs. And as for all those titles they don't me sh-t to me in a duck blind. All that matters to me is if the dog will go get a duck. And a Boykin will do that as well as any Lab. But like I said in a previous post it is all in what you want.

goosebruce · Postby **goosebruce** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 10:17 pm

Geez, ya try to be nice and the folks with the lil dogs still get mad.
Read whut I wrote brother...Knock yurself out if thats what you want. Its even kinda cool in a funky, nothing else matters kinda way. Never knocked yur lil dogs, simply put, don't kid yourself or anyone else about what you got. Different breeds where developed for different things, and lab stuff is done best by labs. Thats what the breed was developed for. Oh a case can be made for a lot of dogs, and I aint knocking a one. But you're gonna compare all those dogs to how a lab does it, and depending on your wants or needs, an off dog might work for someone, might not. But don't kid yourself or anyone, that its better. Theres even some breeds that do particular things better than a lab (chessies and ice for instance), but they always give up something in return (chessies on a hot dovefield or working upland for instance).
You want something different, get something different, knowing whats ahead of you and its limitations. Dats all I said.
If yur a boykin lover, have you ckd out the boykin trials? They got a whole gig all their own. You might be surpirsed if you found what you knock, how much you might be intrested in it. If you truely love the breed, you owe it to the breed to find out about the people trying to save it as a hunting breed. travis

Boykin · Postby **Boykin** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 11:21 pm

I wasn't trying to say they were better but that they can do the same job of fetching ducks. But I get sick and tired of people who say they are weird or off dogs and Labs are so much better and duck hunting is a Labs job. Also I know all about the Boykin Spaniel Society have been a member for almost 12 years now. The trials are a great thing even the HRC you talked about, but I have seen Boykins and Labs and others who do great at the trials but suck in a hunting situation. I don't mean to sound so pissed off but I have to take up for my Little Brown Buddy because he has given me some great memories doing a Labs work!

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