HUNTING STYLE OF THE BOYKIN SPANIEL
Board Approved 2006

      Revised & Approved By The BSCBAA Board August 11,2006

The Boykin Spaniel is a versatile hunting spaniel that can be found duck hunting in the morning, pheasant hunting in the afternoon and light goose hunting in the early evening all in the same day.

There is no split between field and show types within the Boykin Spaniel. A Boykin Spaniel can be as equally comfortable in the show ring as he is in the field given the proper training and socialization.

He has strong drive and an excellent nose. He quarters the field within gun range at a steady moderate pace enabling him to hunt all day. Rather than charge into a flush with reckless abandon the Boykin will hesitate until it locates the bird through sight or scent and then force the bird into flight with an aggressive flush. This has been described as a hesitation flush. Blinking, sitting when a bird is located, pointing or a dog that needs encouragement or to be commanded to flush is not in character with the Boykin’s hunting style and is unacceptable.

As a truly versatile hunting spaniel trained for water fowling as well as upland hunting, the Boykin readily takes to water and is a strong swimmer. He should show willingness to enter the water for retrieves across water on land or in the water.

BSCBAA Working Ability Certification Program

Board Approved 2007
      Revised & Approved By The BSCBAA Board July 2007

WORKING DOG TEST

Purpose: The Working Dog Test is an introduction to upland flushing work for
both handlers and dogs. The program is designed to give Boykins and other
flushing spaniels the opportunity to demonstrate their natural and trained
abilities in a NON-COMPETITIVE event. Two award levels may be earned. The WD-
Working Dog Certificate for satisfactory work and the WDX-Working Dog Excellent
for outstanding work.

Procedures: The Working Dog Test may be offered by a flushing spaniel club or
by a group of flushing spaniel owners. Requests for BSCBAA approval to hold
Working Dog Tests at which Boykin Spaniels may earn the BSCBAA WD or WDX may be
obtained by a letter written on a club or groups letterhead and mailed to
BSCBAA Hunting Committee, PO Box 4245, Gastonia, NC 28056 at least 90 days
before the event. The letter should include the dates, time, location, and
judges names. The completed Judging Sheets should be mailed within 1 week to
the BSCBAA Hunting Committee. Owners of other flushing spaniel breeds must
notify their respective parent club secretaries.

Judging Guidelines: Steady on Line-Land: The dog must sit at the handlers side
until the judge instructs the handler to begin the hunt. Satisfactory: The dog
may be lightly restrained with a lead or by the collar. The dog should not
struggle against the handler.. Excellent: The dog stays in place with a minimum
of commands off lead. Fail: The dog fails to sit and stay until sent by the
handler.

Efficient Quartering: Satisfactory: The dog should demonstrate reasonable
quartering, use of wind, and sufficient desire to search cover for game.
Excellent: The dog should quarter and hunt with enthusiasm with a minimum of
handling. Fail: The dog hunts out of gun range, does not respond to the handler
or covers ground too slowly.

Finds and Flushes Birds: Satisfactory: The dog should have sufficient hunting
ability to find and flush birds in a workmanlike manor without undue urging.
Excellent: The dog performs as above in an enthusiastic and superlative manner.
Fail: The dog shows lack of nose, requires excessive urging to flush, points,
or refuses to flush.

Marks and Retrieves Birds-Land: Dogs are not required to be steady to flush and
shot. Satisfactory: The dog should mark the fall of the bird and deliver the
bird within close proximity of the handler. The dog may be handled to the fall
if the dog has not marked it due to any reasonable circumstance. Excellent: The
dog marks and retrieves enthusiastically and delivers to hand. Fail: The dog
refuses to retrieve or requires excessive help in find the fall.

Steady on Line-Water: The dog should not leave the line until sent by the
handler. Distances of the fall shall be no less than 30 yards and no more than
60 yards. Satisfactory: The dog may be held by leash or by the collar until the
judge directs the handler to send the dog. Excellent: The dog must be line
steady (sit and stay unrestrained by the handler). Fail: The dog struggles
against the handler or breaks if unrestrained.

Marks and Retrieves Bird-Water: Satisfactory: The dog should mark the fall and
enter water to swim without undue urging and retrieve the bird out of the water
with close proximity of the handler. Excellent:
The dog marks the fall enters the water and retrieves enthusiastically and
delivers to hand. Fail: The dog refuses to swim, refuses to retrieve or
requires excessive urging to complete the task.

Does Not Display Gunshyness: Satisfactory: The dog should have sufficient
desire that he shows little reaction to the gun. Excellent: The dog has such
high desire that he shows no reaction to the gun or the gun increases his
desire to hunt and retrieve. Fail: The dog shows fear to the gun.

Hardmouth is a serious fault. When a dog delivers a damaged bird unfit for the
table by chewing the dog shall not qualify.

Requirements: A dog that completes all parts of the test with Satisfactory
scores or higher shall be awarded the Working Dog Certificate (WD). A dog that
completes all parts of the test with Excellent scores shall be awarded the
Working Dog Excellent Certificate (WDX). A dog that receives a failing score in
any part of the test shall not qualify. Birds to be used can be Pigeons or
Chuckers.
 

The Boykin Spaniel Club
& Breeders Association of America, Inc.

Post Office Box 6265
Gastonia, NC 28056

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