My buddy

[Jimmy Goodtime]

I’m pretty new around here, but I’ve looked through a lot of these old threads at these beautiful guns and wonderful dogs. I thought I would post some pictures of my buddy “Scout”. He is almost two, a Boykin, and the first bird dog I’ve trained. To say it’s been interesting is the least I can say, but what a fun ride! He’s an absolute pleasure I might add.

[Jim Cloninger]

Really nice looking dog, your buddy, Scout. Is a Boykin a spaniel related to Springer Spaniels? Scout looks like a real good retriever, how about ducks? Does Scout also find birds?
Jim

[Jeff S]

Those are great pictures! Thanks for sharing them. Jeff

[glassman48]

Jimmy,
Those are great pictures, thank you for sharing them. I am training my first bird dog a brittany. It has been quite a ride so far.

[Jimmy Goodtime]

Thanks to all for the kind words!

Jim- Boykin Spaniels do share some ancestry with Springers......along with many other bird dog breeds! They have an interesting story and if you’d like to learn more about them the Boykin Spaniel Society has a lot of good reading about their foundation. They originated from South Carolina in the Wateree region to hunt ducks and turkeys in the swamps. Scout is just as comfortable in water as he is on land. I have no doubt he will fetch ducks but unfortunately I didn’t get into any this year. The melanistic pheasant in the picture was a retrieve across a river. He is a natural flusher as well. Those pics are from a tower shoot last month at a local club. I didn’t shoot, I just worked Scout. It was a great way to get some work on real birds. He made about 30 retrieves that day!

[Jimmy Goodtime]

Scout did really well today. It was both mine and his first hunt test. I was nervous, he was not! Got our first pass.

[glassman48]

Jimmy,
Congratulations again, what a great accomplishment, I bet your in the "proud papa" mode now. What a great looking dog you have.

[Jim Cloninger]

Congratulations Scout & Jimmy!
Jim

[Jimmy Goodtime]

I have to brag on my boy. I don’t run a lot of the hunt test circuit, but I figured my boy at least deserved some letters to leave his mark. We got his HRC Started title this past weekend. We train hard, have fun, and mostly hunt together. I do all the training myself, so it meant a lot. I’m proud of my buddy! Now on to the duck opener this weekend in the Peach state.

[Jeff S]

Congratulations, and nice picture on the old bale.

[vaturkey]

Me thinks that pup can punch above his weight class with zero problems.

[Jim Cloninger]

Good luck with the ducks, Jimmy and Scout. Post a picture of Scout retrieving a duck.
Jim

[Jimmy Goodtime]

Thanks guys!

VATurkey- For sure on that! He’ll go anywhere a Lab will and on our hot doves days, he’ll still be trucking when they need a break. Very heat tolerant.

Jim- I’ll be sure to do that if I can get into some! Here’s a pic from last year when he even retrieved.... gasp....a merganser someone shot! Poor Fella!

[Stan Hillis]

Congratulations, Jimmy. Buddy is a handsome Boykin.

By your comments, you must be down he'ah in the same part of the world as me (Georgia). South Carolina is a hotbed of Boykin activity, much of it due to Pam Kadlec who breeds and trains them.

Good hunting this duck season!

SRH

[Jim Cloninger]

It really is interesting that these dogs originated in South Carolina. Scout looks like he is at home in the swamps retrieving ducks.
Jim