MediumSporting Group

Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel was developed in early-20th-century South Carolina as a compact retrieving spaniel small enough to share a skiff with a hunter.

Calculate Boykin Spaniel age

Lifespan12.5 yrrange 10–15

SizeMediumSporting Group

Weight25–40 lb11.3–18.1 kg

Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11

Gallery (3)

About

About the Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel was developed in early-20th-century South Carolina as a compact retrieving spaniel small enough to share a skiff with a hunter. Designated the official state dog of South Carolina in 1985.

Aging

How Boykin Spaniels age

Not covered in RVC VetCompass; AKC breed-standard estimates indicate 10-15 years. OFA screens show cataracts at 6.9% and collie-eye-anomaly variants at elevated rates — distinctive for a sporting spaniel — alongside patellar luxation (3.3%).

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 12.5 yr · range 10–15 Senior careSenior at 7 · geriatric at 11 Common health issues10 tracked conditions

Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight: 25–40 lb(11.3–18.1 kg)
Height: 14–18 in(35.6–45.7 cm)
Coat type: Curly
Colors: Liver

Temperament

How Boykin Spaniels tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

energeticloyaleageradaptable

Energy
4/5
Trainability
4/5
Good with kids
5/5
Good with other dogs
5/5
Shedding
3/5

Health

Common health issues

Full health profile

Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Description and veterinary guidance for Intervertebral Disc Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Low prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr
Patellar Luxation
Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.