South Carolina hunters first bred the Boykin spaniel during the 1900s to provide the ideal dog for hunting. They needed a small dog compactly built for boat travel and retrieving.
L. W. (Whit) Boykin (1861-1932), a planter and sportsman, lived in the Boykin community just outside of Camden, South Carolina. He, along with his relatives, the Canteys, experimented with many breeds to resolve the problems posed by carrying large dogs in their boats. With selective breeding and a little luck, Whit developed a small multipurpose retriever now known as the Boykin spaniel. This little friend is called the dog that doesn't rock the boat. The Boykin spaniel is the state dog of South Carolina.