Meet Scout, a Boykin Spaniel.
Just after the turn of the century in South Carolina, bird hunters were breeding a stock of hunting dogs that would be compact and rugged. They needed to be small enough to travel in boats and rugged enough for both land and water retrieves. Enter the Boykin Spainel. To quote the breed standard "The Boykin is built to cover rough ground and swim in all conditions with agility and reasonable speed."
The Boykin breed has been traced back to a little brown stray named Dumpy. He was found by a banker in Spartanburg, South Carolina and was sent to live with L.W Boykin who trained him to be a prized waterfowl retriever and turkey dog. Over the years since, Dumpy's line has been thought to be crossed with other breeds such as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel and the American Water Spaniel, though no written records survive to support or disprove these claims.
If there is one thing the Boykin has it's Stamina, these hearty little hunters can stay by their owners side all day and keep going with the kids all night. Remember even with their steady temperament it is never a good idea to leave children and dogs unsupervised. They are best suited for life with an active family. Though they are docile and obedient, these dogs are hunters and can get into more than their fair share of mischief if they do not get enough exercise on a daily basis.
