Clumber Spaniel

Size
Medium (11kg - 27kg)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Puppy school only
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
Weekly
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent + affectionate

History

The Clumber Spaniel is named after the Duke of Newcastle’s Nottingham country estate, Clumber Park. The breed was definitely with the Duke prior to 1788, and seems to have been with the family even as early as the 1750s. A heavy, large white spaniel often featured in artwork throughout the British Isles and Europe for centuries before this. It was one of the first breeds to be named. The breed has been owned by the English Royal family for generations, HRH The Princess Royal currently has a small kennel for field work.

Characteristics

The Clumber is bred for hunting in heavy cover where its largely white coat makes it easy to see. The breed's strong build ensures it is able to penetrate dense undergrowth to flush or retrieve game. This breed possesses great stamina, is a silent worker with an excellent ability to track and a fit and well bred dog will not tire from a long day of moderately paced work.

Temperament

The Clumber Spaniel is not hyperactive but is active. The Clumber is a friendly, sociable and charismatic companion. The Clumber is gentle, loyal and affectionate, mostly dignified but is reserved with people and environments he has not met before.

Appearance

The Clumber has a bulky and strong hindquarter which balances well with the weight of the forehand making him ‘well balanced’, and heavy set onto short legs. This allows his body to appear longer than other breeds. His legs are not stumpy but shorter than ‘average’. His physique gives him strength and power to push through undergrowth, but the length of body to be able to climb over boulders and logs, and reach a long way onto a kitchen bench.

He is also notable for his facial expression, large feet, and soft to touch coat, and the free spread of his shedding white hair.

The Dogs Australia breed standard requires adults to be between 25 (minimum for adult females) to 34 kg (maximum for adult males). A large adult male should not be taller than 50cm at the withers nor less than 43cm, however the standard makes no requirements.

Health

Clumbers typically can be expected to live between 10-12 years of age, but with correct nutrition and and optimum environment will live to 15 plus years. However, sufficient exercise is needed if the Clumber is to avoid gaining weight and to avoid losing muscle tone and bone strength which are required throughout a healthy life.

The breed is often cited as being prone to hip dysplasia but if the dogs are bred to meet the requirements of the breed standard this is rarely a problem (Australia’s hip score record demonstrates this, but breeders must be very careful in choosing which dogs to breed to avoid a decline in this record). The breed has two confirmed autosomal recessive defective genes (PDP1def and EIC) that breeders must screen for to avoid producing unhealthy puppies.

As with poor hip joints, breeders must be careful in choosing which dogs to breed to avoid eye rim and shape issues which, if they develop, will cause pain and require surgery (yes, the pricey sort) (entropion/ectropion).

Maintenance

Clumber Spaniels have a generally low maintenance, thick, soft weather-resistant coat. To avoid shedding hairs falling, hair brushing and combing should be done on a regular basis.

The breed’s eyes and ears should be regularly checked. Trimming the feet on top and underneath, the feathering under the ear hole, from the wrist to the foot on the front legs and from the hock to foot on the hind legs every 3 weeks should be sufficient when regularly combed through

Suitability

The Clumber is happiest in a group living situation with a canine (preferably Clumber) friend for company. The breed usually adapts well to other non-dominant breeds, but can be just as content in a single dog family if he has a fair amount of human company throughout the day. He dislikes rigorous, repetitive, regimented training, prefers to learn through observation and will copy quickly as he has a great desire to interact with and please his owner, and revels in positive reinforcement techniques.

Generally, the breed is really very intelligent, and also stoic in the belief that what they learned was what was meant to be taught, so owners need to be aware of the their own inaccuracies in teaching a skill

Words: Diana Fenton & Jan Irving

Image: Shutterstock.com

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Clumber Spaniel, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Clumber Spaniel and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 14 Sep 2011)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Balanced, well boned, active with a thoughtful expression, overall appearance denoting strength. The Clumber should be firm, fit and capable of a day’s work of beating in heavy cover.

Characteristics

Stoical, great hearted, highly intelligent with a determined attitude enhancing his natural ability. A silent worker with an excellent nose.

Temperament

Steady, reliable kind and dignified; more aloof than other Spaniels, showing no tendency towards aggression.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Large, square, medium length, broad on top with decided occiput, heavy brows, deep stop. Square muzzle with well-developed flews. No exaggeration in head and skull.
Eyes	Clean, dark amber. Full light eyes highly undesirable. Acceptable to have some haw showing, but without excess. Free from obvious eye problems.
Ears	Large, vine leaf shaped, well covered with straight hair. Hanging slightly forward, feather not to extend below leather.
Mouth	Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck	Fairly long, thick, powerful.
Forequarters	Shoulders strong, sloping, muscular, legs short, straight, well boned, strong.
Body	Long, well muscled and strong. Chest deep. Well sprung ribs which are carried well back. Muscular loin, well let down in flank.
Hindquarters	Very powerful and well developed. Hocks low, stifles well bent and set straight.
Feet	Large, round, well covered with hair.
Tail	Docked: Set low. Well feathered, carried level with back.Undocked: Set low. Well feathered, carried level with back.
Gait/Movement	Moving straight fore and aft, with effortless drive.
Coat	Abundant, close, silky and straight. Legs and chest well feathered.
Colour	Plain white body preferred, with lemon markings; orange permissible. Slight head markings and freckled muzzle.
Size	Ideal Weight: Dogs 29.5-34 kgs (65-75 lbs)Bitches 25-29.5 kgs (55-65 lbs)

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.