Back Creek Kennel

SOUTH CAROLINAS OWN STATE DOG
THE BEAUTIFUL BOYKIN RETRIEVER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOYKIN SPANIEL HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO HOST FIRST-EVER CANINE HEALTH SYMPOSIUM THIS SATURDAY
MONROE, NC —

The Boykin Spaniel Health Organization, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to canine well-being, is proud to announce its inaugural Boykin Spaniel Health Symposium.
This verified community event takes place this Saturday, August 1, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The symposium will be held at the scenic Boykin Ridge Farm, hosted by "Why Not An American Ark," located at 1106 Charlie Williams Rd, Monroe, NC 28112.

Celebrating South Carolina's Official State Dog
The Boykin Spaniel is a true Southern treasure, officially designated as South Carolina's state dog in 1985. Originally bred in the early 20th century by hunters in Spartanburg and Camden, South Carolina, these compact, chocolate-brown retrievers were specifically engineered to hunt wild turkeys and waterfowl in the Wateree River swamps. Known for their rich wavy coats, intense bird drive, and superb swimming skills, they are compact enough to ride in small canvas boats. Beyond their exceptional working abilities, their friendly, affectionate, and loyal temperament makes them beloved family companions.

A Jam-Packed Day of Fun, Shopping, and Education
The symposium brings together top veterinary specialists, dedicated researchers, rescue organizations, and pet health partners for a fun, family-friendly day focused entirely on canine health, and breed education.

In addition to world-class educational sessions, attendees can enjoy an exciting lineup of activities, while enjoying the great event and the Beautiful Boykin Retrievers stay tuned for more.

• Silent Auction & Raffle: Bid on fantastic items to help raise funds for breed health research.
• Merchandise Vendors: Shop from a variety of local vendors offering great gear and gifts.
• Food Trucks & Treats: Grab lunch from our primary food truck and a cool dessert from the ice cream truck. Both trucks feature special dog-friendly snacks so your pup won't miss out!
• Designated Dog Swim Area: Let your four-legged friends beat the summer heat and splash around in a safe, monitored swimming space.

• Petting Zoo Next Door: When you finish up at the symposium, head right next door to visit the "Why Not An American Ark" petting zoo for a perfect family experience.
Event Details:
• Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: Boykin Ridge Farm (Hosted by Why Not An American Ark)
• Address: 1106 Charlie Williams Rd, Monroe, NC 28112
• More Info: https://wew.boykinhealth.org/events.html
Contact Information:
For media inquiries or event questions, please reach out to:
• Contact: Teresa Bell, Founder and President
• Organization: Boykin Spaniel Health Organization
• Email: [email protected]
•
Thank you to Upstate CF Press for the opportunity to share this important event with the community!

If you have a young dog and would like to gain some field training experience for the upcoming season, this would be a great opportunity for you.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CQhqN4Cie/

Our next two club training days will be on July 25th and August 22nd @7:30am. Location will be Oakridge Kennel (1110 Unionville - Indian Trail Rd W, Monroe, NC 28110). Club Members and Non-Club Members are welcome to attend. Watch your speed, this is a kennel.

Happy Independence Day from Back Creek Kennel!

It's never easy losing a dog, but after 5,931 days of a wonderful life we sadly had to say good-bye to Miss Nicki earlier today. At 16-years and three months of age, she had still been getting around pretty good up until a few days ago when her balance and the ability to stand without being wobbly became too much for her to handle. She even maintained a good appetite and always cleaned her bowl, but when she recently started leaving her food uneaten, I knew we were headed down a path of no return. In her case, tough decisions have to be made and now she can rest in peace.

Nicki came to Back Creek Kennel as my first Boykin Spaniel. I plucked her out of a local breeding and little did I know what a wonderful dog she would become. She had a beautiful personality around both people and the other dogs that frequently passed through my kennel. She absolutely loved to hunt and picked up lots of birds for me during her career. She was very affectionate and didn't have a mean bone in body.

Nicki will also be known for her contributions to my Boykin Spaniel breeding program. If you ever got a Boykin pup from Back Creek Kennel, Nicki's registered name (Back Creek's Nicki) will be somewhere in your pup's pedigree. She was the foundation dog for all the Boykin litters I've had and given her health and genetic qualities, she was perfect dog from which to build my breeding program from.

Nicki, you will be greatly missed here at Back Creek, but you leave us with some wonderful memories. Thank you for being the wonderful dog that you were for our family.

I just saw where Blue Ridge Veterinary Imaging is coming to the Cabarrus County Arena in July. For those of you who are planning to get your dog's hips, elbows, patella's, and eyes certified, this would be a great opportunity for you as they don't come to this area very often. This is a mobile imaging clinic which allows you to get your dog's hips done without anesthesia. I've used them many times in the past and highly recommend them. You need to call to schedule an appointment as I don't think they take walk-ups.

In honor of all those who gave their lives for us to be free.

Well, it looks like the maternity ward at Back Creek Kennel will be opening up again real soon for a new Boykin Spaniel litter. The planned breeding between Miss Josie and Heath, which was supposed to happen late January/early February of 2026 finally got done the first week in April and puppies are expected sometime the first week of June. Miss Josie is looking very pregnant and hopefully we will have an uneventful delivery.

Josie has been at Back Creek for five years now, but this is her first breeding. Josie is an excellent hunter who is just as comfortable fetching doves as she is flushing the wily rooster. From the time she was nine months old, Josie has made the trip with us out west and is an absolute beast chasing pheasants and other mid-west upland game. Josie has excellent physical confirmation and a mild wavy coat. Josie is also clear of all the recommended genetic testing by the Boykin Spaniel Society (BSS) and has excellent hips. Her pedigree as well as health and genetic testing can been seen at this link:

https://www.huntingboykinpedigree.com/pedigree.asp?id=7000

The sire of this litter (Heath) has been a proven commodity for me here at Back Creek. Heath was the sire in my previous two litters and the overwhelmingly positive feedback I have received from folks who got pups from these two breeding's was a good indication to me that not only was Heath a genetically strong dog, but his pups carried the conformation and field traits I was looking for. Heath is a beautiful liver colored Boykin that exemplifies all the desired physical traits you would want in a Boykin Spaniel. Heath also has a pedigree littered with an accomplished field and Hunt Test lineage. Health is also clear of the recommended health and genetic testing recommended by the Boykin Spaniel Society. His information can be found at this link:

https://www.huntingboykinpedigree.com/pedigree.asp?id=6810

If you are looking for a quality field or Hunt Test breeding from genetically strong parents, this litter should pique your interest. Feel free to call, text, or email me if you would like more information. I have already started a puppy list, and $200 deposits are currently being accepted to hold your spot on my list. I will be publishing additional information as it becomes available. Puppies will be ready to go to their new homes in early August. Back Creek Kennel is recognized as a Silver Level Breeder with the Boykin Spaniel Society.

For those of you who have asked about health and genetic testing for your dogs, the BSS is having a clinic where you can get a number of tests done in one day. You must be a BSS member to take advantage of this clinic. If you are a BSS member, you should have gotten an email telling you how to sign up.

The Boykin Spaniel Foundation would like to invite you to our annual Heart and Eye Certification Health Clinic, alongside DNA testing, patellar evaluations, and a microchip clinic on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Camden City Arena, 517 Bull Street, Camden, SC. Take advantage of this exclusive BSS Member opportunity!

The heart and eye clinics are appointment-only, so please use the QR Code found in the email to secure your spot.

The Animal Genetics DNA clinic (reduced-cost DNA testing kit), Patellar ($25), and microchip clinic (chips are $10 per dog) will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay! Please bring a copy of your BSS registration and arrive at least 20 minutes early to ensure a smooth process.

As a valued member of the Boykin Spaniel Society, you are entitled to one complimentary heart and one eye certification clinic for your BSS-registered dog with your current membership. To further bolster the health of our beloved breed, the Foundation will cover all OFA recording fees, enhancing the vital health data we need to support and protect the Boykin Spaniel. Your dog’s information will be integrated into our Registry, contributing to valuable insights while maintaining your privacy—only aggregate data will be shared. If you prefer not to report results to the OFA, veterinary fees will be $100 each for the eye and heart tests.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to champion the health of our breed! Please have your BSS membership number and your dog’s BSS registration number ready when you arrive for your appointment. Together, we can ensure the continued well-being of Boykin Spaniels for generations to come!

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Back Creek Kennel!

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On behalf of Back Creek Kennel, we want to honor all our Veterans who have served in the past as well as those who are still serving our country. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made to keep our country safe.