Boykins

After seeing that several here have one, just curious as to their temperament compared to a lab. I've had 4 hunting labs over ht year san just put my last one down. He did dual service, retrieved ducks and was a really good flushing/pointing upland dog.
He's the one in my avatar. I sen a Boykin 30 years ago an older gentlemen had on a dove hunt.

How hard headed are they? Training wise and prefer a female to male. I've had 3 males and 1 female Lab over the years and leaning towards another female since I don't have the desire to handle a male hard headness, females just seem easier to work. Not knowing about Boykins that well was curious as to who their temperment might be perceived compared to a female lab.

Are Boykins ok on upland, primarily quail, not a deal breaker cause I doubt I can find another lab like my last one.

I've got a male Boykin......had 2 female Labs before that. They are more "Hyper" than a Lab. Very Birdy....good flushing dogs on Pheasants....they love water so-good duck retrievers and equally well on doves....they just don't generally point.

We have 2 males and a female and 2 female labs. Their personalities are totally different. The Boykins like Festus said are very birdy and make great hunting dogs. They also do very well playing the hunt test game. They make great house dogs also. I love both breeds and enjoy training both but most lab trainers do not like training Boykins.

I’ve never been around them but the recent posts on here got me interested in them. They seem to be a pretty cool dog. Just curious why the lab trainers wouldn’t want to fool with them? Im new to retriever world and in the process of training my first lab. If they don’t chew everything up that would be a plus. How do they really handle the cold weather, reading on line you see all kinds of opinions?

They are hard headed and do things when retrieving labs don’t do. A good example is running out for the retrieve and rolling around on the duck. As far as cold weather goes all of ours don’t mind it. They get in cold water just like our labs do. Some Boykins don’t like water period but most do. They don’t chew as bad as labs but eat things especially women’s panties. Find a pup from a reputable breeder that hunts and runs hunt test. Make sure the genetic test have been done. Be prepared to pay big bucks for a quality pup. They start at about $1500 but really well bred ones go for upwards of $2500. Anything cheaper than that beware. They are out there for a lot less but I can assure the proper testing hasn’t been done.

Cant stress that enough. Make sure eyes and hips are in good standing. My parents had 2 before their current boykin. One had bad hips, and the other was blind for most of his life. They are good dogs, but if you want something that can upland hunt and will point/ retrieve i would suggest a brittany. Ive got one that will quail hunt his ass off. Point every covey and retrieve birds when shot. Dove hunts great too. Picked up 36 of 36 dove last season.

The ones I have been around were hard headed as hell. And crazy. They're also the only dog I've ever been maliciously bitten by. And I deal with a lot of dogs.

I am sure there are some good ones out there, but they haven't graced me with their presence.

I have a female that is about to be 3 in a few weeks. She didnt turn out to be a hunting dog because life threw other things our direction when it was time to work with her but she is a great dog. She minds well, loves to go to the farm and do everything with me I enjoy(except hunt) and absolutely loves to curl on on the couch or in the bed with us. As far as being aggressive, mine is as far from that as you can get. In fact I am not sure she even knows how to growl.

I wouldn’t trade my Boykins for anything. We have two girls that are 6 years old. Sweet, sweet dogs. One has attached herself to our son who is severely disabled. She loves him. The other loves her mom and would tight rope walk a razors edge to fetch a bird.

Lol they are crazy for the most part. There are not only good ones out there there are great dogs that I would put up against most labs. Butch Herb has several that are exceptional with 2 of them having GRHRCH titles. His dog Pelham has won everything that can be won and has passed the Grand at least 6 times. Not many labs have done that. Our oldest male is a direct son of Pelhsm. He is the only dog that has bitten me while FF him. We love ours very much and wouldn’t take anything for them.

I have a four year old boykin that is as crazy as a sprayed roach, but he's a great dog. He wants to go everywhere I go and will ride the tractor and lawnmower with me. He's a hell of a retriever will not stop retrieving as long as I'm killing birds or throwing a bumper or ball. They are very loyal animals with great temperament, but can be hard headed as hell at times.. My wife, who is far from an animal lover, actually loves our boykin and wouldn't get rid of him for nothing..

Had Boykins for over 30 yrs, never seen any of what you guys are talking about other than loyal and absolute retrievers. They can be hyper or ADD at times but you cannot train them with a heavy hand like you would a Lab. Labs are great but will never own one again. The hyper-ness I think comes from the Springer influence, I had a male boykin that hated other male dogs and would try to fight them but loved everything else including kids climbing over him and on him. Definitely get the eyes and hips checked for sure as some lines are bad for hip dysplasia. They are super smart and will do things other dogs cant. My dad would tell his boykin lets go for a ride and she would get the keys and meet him at the truck! They are very loyal and will stay right with you no matter what you are doing, mine stays right beside me almost constantly and will retrieve till I get tired! I have hunted mine on chukar, pheasants, quail, geese, ducks (in ice), & doves without fail.

I'm late to this thread, but can echo much of what's been said. I had one years ago (that was not registered...long story). He was a very good dog, and training was not my superpower then. I've gotten better. He was hard headed, but a damn fine dog. Very birdy, good retriever, great watchdog too.

Currently have a 6.5mo old female. I paid $1500 for her. She's, hands down, the best PUPPY I've ever owned. Extremely willing to please, and learns fast. Loves to retrieve, and loves to get in the bush and quarter back and forth with her nose to the ground, and tail wagging 100mph. Not sure she knows exactly what she's after just yet, but she's a hunter. She loves to go places and rides in the truck very calmly. She goes to the office with me often and mostly entertains herself while I work. She's not been hard to house train, nor extremely destructive.

Boykins CAN BE hard headed and soft tempered (shut down if you lose your temper). This one I have now is not super hard headed, or soft tempered. I've discovered that shaping natural behaviors in to those I want is the easiest way with her. They are NOT labs. Labs I've owned and seen will take a 2x4 up side the head and not quit on you. I've owned a boykin pup (that I adopted out due to her soft temper and hard head) that would give up if you raised your voice, and also would soil her own kennel. I bought her from a news paper add about 15 years ago.

My experience these days with mine and others I know that have Boykins bought from reputable breeders is that the Boykin Society has been diligent in keeping the breed a hunter and with the standards, and if you buy from a reputable breeder, then you're likely going to get a fine dog. If you try to find one cheap, then do so at your own peril. May or may not be a great dog.

Above all Boykins thrive on human attention, and will be happiest and the best they can be at their jobs if they're are also a family dog.

I want a Boykin. I’ve lots of experience with field bred Springers so I know what to expect. Breeder recommendations are appreciated! Thanks.

They are too small for waterfowl hunting unless you are in a swamp where they can get up on a cypress knee and take a break from swimming or you are hunting a farm pond. They are a good wood duck dog. They are not an open or big water dog.

Other than that they are pretty much worthless.... but make great pets. Would be good for picking up doves and sleeping by the fireplace. That's about it. Overrated big time as a gun dog.

I disagree with your assessment. Took mine to Mississippi two years ago and he had zero trouble chasing down and retrieving mallards in open rice fields..

I beg to differ. I am not saying in big water or with big ducks/geese that a lab isn't superior to a boykin but boykins can get it done. Just look up Eric Hicks on facebook and look through his pics. He hunts his in snow/ice, water and on land with everything from doves, pheasants, ducks and geese and they excel.

Boykin are fine dogs. The truth is they are smaller than a lab and they don't have a labs undercoat. I almost watched a Boykin freeze to death hunting the timber in Arkansas. The dog only made it because we threw it in the gunbox of the boat with a Q-beam as a heat source.

So, they're not a lab, thus worthless? Everybody got an opinion .

The first one I owned in the 90s could swim for hours including in the surf at the beach. Broke ice to retrieve wood ducks. I'd put his water ability up against any big breed pound for pound and he was 55lbs at his peak. Could go all day in 90+ degree heat too. Damned fine gun dog.

If I hunted geese or large ducks in big frigid water, maybe it would't be my first choice for that. For hunting, versatility, and companionship in the south, they're damned hard to beat. I've seen them used as flushers for quail and pheasant, both as the primary and backing up the pointers, and run circles around the pointers they backed up for retrieving. I've seen them trained to hunt box turtles in the woods for scientific research. They could locate and retrieve 4 or so an hour when researchers on their own would go good to find a couple a day.

Here's the thing. They were bred to do certain things, and their origin is in the swamps of SC. They do what they were bred to do quite well. They are NOT labs, and weren't meant to be. If I wanted a lab...I'd get one.

I bought mine this past spring from a retired vet in H'ville. I don't know that he has any litters coming up. I can tell you this. Look for breeders who have, at a minimum, hip and eye certifications. Stay away from "breeders" offering dogs for sale under $1000.00. These are often pet owners who decided to have a litter. That was my take after researching. You can pay upwards of $2500. I wasn't willing to pay that. Dogs going for that are usually from established hunters/breeder/trainers and a pedigree of champion hunters. You can find good litters and breeders offering dogs under $2000 if you look and are patient.

Google up Michael Barnes of Valley Way Kennels. He's a trainer/breeder in H'ville and has breed stock, and seems like a good down to earth guy that knows Boykins.

Great!! Thanks so much! I had a turkey hunting mentor who said all my Springers were good for was as a "cockleburr catcher" but he was impressed at how smart and well trained they were. I love dogs, including labs, who will in my experience eat a doghouse slap to pieces. To each his own. Appreciate the lead!

I'm a little late to this post, but I have owned my Boykin since June and overall he's a great pup. He is currently 5months old and comes from a hunting bloodline and I can tell when he's retrieving. He is a really smart pup but at times he's just plain hard headed. He will be going to the trainer when he hits 6 or 7 months of age. I have high expectations for this one.

Just be sure whoever you get a pup from has the proper genetic testing done and papers to go with. I looked for about 2 years before I finally found one without being put on some sort of wait list. I am extremely satisfied with the breed.

Dogs mimic their owner’s behavior.

Lol

Mine used to be hell on socks!!!

I trained dogs for years and encountered some fine pointing and retrieving dogs. Then I met a Boykin and was blown away. Had to have one. My Boykin is now 14 years old and the finest overall dog I've personally handled. Great disposition. A retrieving machine on land and water. Comfortable in a duck blind, on a dove field, or blood trailing a deer. Highly intelligent. Excellent memory. Recalls where the fetch toys are kept at friends' houses we may only visit twice a year. Large vocabulary. High octane when it's time to retrieve but totally chilled on the recliner or in a crowd of people. Takes verbal and hand signals. Uncanny ability to read body language and anticipate my next move. Very social. Has never growled or shown aggression. LOVES to ride. Thinks she owns a Tundra Crewmax and a Polaris Ranger.

One night I took her in a Tractor Supply store right at closing time. The manager had never seen a Boykin and wanted to see her retrieve something. I knew they kept the Kong fetch toys near floor level on pegboard. So I pointed toward that side of the store and told Pearl to go find a ball. Pearl tears out and begins zipping through aisles. She comes back to the counter with a Kong rubber fetch ball. It was slobbered up where she tugged the package off the pegboard hook. Then I had Pearl place it up on the counter so we could pay for it. This Boykin has so many friends that she needs her own FB page.

As for breeders, you might start with Pam Kadlec at Just Ducky Kennels in SC. She wrote the book on Boykins and has a reputation for top quality hunting stock that make great family dogs too.

Here’s mine waiting on me to give him the command to eat his bone..

Here he is chilling on the couch at the beach..

My boykin is far from the sharpest tool in the shed but is a great dog. In fact, the highly intelligent little girl just shat out a sock at lunch that she ate Tuesday afternoon.

My neighbor has a Boykin male and he is a good dog, a little rambunctious at times. He is very friendly to me, not so much to strangers, which I like. He keeps strangers out of my driveway. He loves playing fetch and any type of attention from me. The owner says he is not much of a hunter though. He hates my garbage can with a passion for some reason. He literally attacked it yesterday when I rolled it back off the street He didn't bother me at all but tried to eat the can up.

this we took ours duck hunting in flooded timber one evening. I had to carry him wrapped in my jacket 1 mile out that night or we would have lost him. So just my limited experience duck hunting with him they are not near as able to take the cold as labs. And don’t never take one duck hunting near cockle burrs unless you want to spend hours picking them out lol. He was a great pet. I have seen quail hunters that love them as flushing birds.

Picking up my Male Boykin Pup "Coosa" on Friday. Very excited.

We were some friend's house last night and I noticed a magazine with a boykin retrieving a duck on the cover. I asked the guy and turns out he has 3 of them. He breeds them as well and sells them all over the country. I was reading the magazine (it was for Boykin owners) and was fascinated. Just never considered one but the more I've read about them and seeing the comments on here, I will be considering one for our next hunting/family dog.

Dr. B

Doc, I have one that failed as a hunting dog due to myself not working with her. She is a great dog family wise and loves sleeping in the bed. She is 3.5 yrs old and weighs 30lbs on the dot.

My 7 week male pup coosa is showing a lot of promise. It’s fascinating watching him pick up new things daily. Boykins are different in the fact you can’t discipline them like a lab. It takes a steady hand and temperament to do it right. Our biggest hurdle of course at the moment is biting of the pants leg.

my boykin is great retriever, very obedient, will sit by me all day...…

but has been gun shy since birth.

great family dog though. goes bow hunting with me and sits in ground blind from time to time.

My Boykin is a 13mo female. She's as good a dog as I've ever owned. Great personality, very eager to please. Loves the woods and field. She's always "hunting" though not sure what for. She loves to play fetch. I'm working with her best I can on retrieving work. She's pretty solid on bumpers and marked retrieves. High drive. Steady at heel. We've introduced feathers and she loves that. She loves to chase squirrels. She's naturally "birdy." I can't afford to send her off for professional training so I'm doing it myself. Her eagerness to please has made obedience and the training I've done so far pretty easy.

They are not labs as you said. I do use an ecollar on mine. She takes little stimulation. The ecollar was a game changer for me.