Will Gailmard with Colt

Will Gailmard was looking for a dog that could handle retrieving a variety of waterfowl, but would also make a great family dog in his down time. He found the perfect match with his Boykin spaniel named Colt.

Boykin spaniels are medium-sized dogs with a distinctive, solid-brown coat. First bred in South Carolina for flushing and retrieving birds, these dogs are tenacious in the field, yet warm and loving at home with their families. All of this makes Colt, an 8-month-old Boykin puppy, the perfect dog for Gailmard and his family. “I wanted a good family-oriented dog that is also very multifaceted for different styles of bird hunting,” Gailmard explains, noting that he hunts upland birds like doves, quail, and pheasants in addition to migratory birds like ducks, geese, and Sandhill cranes. He needed a dog that could keep up with that variety, and Colt is certainly up for the challenge.

Gailmard has been working with a professional trainer at Southern Pro Kennel since Colt was 7 weeks old, and working on his commands has been a bonding experience for the whole family. “My favorite memory so far is the first time I got to see my youngest daughter train with him. It was so special to see her enjoy working with Colt as much as I do,” Gailmard recalls. “Watching Colt interact with her while he was training, you could tell it was a special moment for him as well.”

The family’s dedication to training is sure to pay off, as Colt already shows great promise in the field at less than a year old. “He is always trying to please me, which in turn makes him never want to give up. He is faster than most dogs, which means he can get there and get back in the blind quicker. He is extremely agile, so he can get into spots where other dogs can’t,” Gailmard explains. “He is excited like a kid on Christmas morning, but he goes into game mode when you get him into the blind or into the cover that he will be launching from.”

Colt loves being in the field, but he has just as much fun at home with his family. “He absolutely loves watching me work the birds; you can see him start to tremble and shake with excitement. But he is also very excited when we fire up the grill, because he knows his sausage biscuit isn’t far away,” Gailmard says. Whether he’s hunting, helping out on the farm, or just chewing on his favorite toys – or a pair of shoes –Colt is an excitable, happy dog who is truly part of the family.