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Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
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Clumber Spaniel
| Country of Origin | Great Britain |
| Weight | 55 - 85 lbs. (25 - 39 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 16 - 20 in. (41 - 51 cm) |
| Coat | The feathered coat is soft to the touch, flat, dense and straight. Its coat is weather-resistant with feathering around the ears, belly and legs. |
| Colour | Clumbers are predominantly white in colour with lemon, brown, or orange markings around the eyes, and at the base of the tail. |
| Litter Size | 2 - 8 average of 5 |
| Life Span | 10 - 13 years |
| Origin & History | The breed's history is uncertain before the middle of the 19th century. One theory is that it originated in France, stating that the Duc de Noailles at the time of the French Revolution gave his kennel of prized spaniels to the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. The theory goes, that the now extinct Alpine Spaniel was breed with Basset Hounds, and the Pyrenean Mountain Dog also known as the Great Pyrenees. A second theory is that it is descended from the old type of Bleinheim Spaniel, which was later to be incorporated into the King Charles breed of Spaniel. Originally these dogs were large gundogs, colored lemon and white whereas the modern breed of them is a much smaller lap/toy breed of dog. What is certain is that the breed took its name from Clumber Park and that the Duke of Newcastle's gamekeeper, William Mansell, is credited with their development and improvement. Prince Albert, the Prince consort of Queen Victoria, was a fancier and promoter of the breed, as was his son King Edward VII, who bred them at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. The breed was shown in England from 1859 onward. They are referred to in Queen Victoria's diary: on October 16, 1840, she wrote, "Walked out directly after breakfast before Albert went to shoot. He had his 7 fine Clumber Spaniels with us and we went into the Slopes, with such a funny old Gamekeeper, Walters, in order that I should see how the dogs found out their game. They are such dear, nice dogs." Until the mid 19th century the breeding of the Clumber Spaniel was mostly restricted to the nobility. During World War I breeding was stopped entirely causing their numbers to decrease to a record low. In 1925, King George V re-developed a line of Clumbers in the Royal Kennel and were used in the fields in the Sandringham Estate. Sh. Ch. Raycroft Socialite, bred by Rae Furness and owned by Ralph Dunne of County Cavan, Ireland, won the coveted honor of Best In Show at the 1991 Crufts Centenary Show. The Clumber Spaniel is currently recognised as a Vulnerable Native Breed by the UK Kennel Club, which means it is a breed which fewer than 300 new registrations each year. Other spaniels recognised as such are the Field Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and Sussex Spaniel. |
| Personality | The Clumber Spaniel is described as a docile, sweet, intelligent and pleasant dog. Among the most low-key and easygoing of the hunting breeds, they are very affectionate, well-behaved, and not very active when mature. Clumbers will get along with other dogs and cats as well as other household animals if they are raised with them. If they sense the owners are meek or passive they can become a bit willful. They are not barkers. Clumbers are playful and usually trustworthy with children of the family. Socialize them well to help them adjust to making friends with strangers. They do not respond well to harsh discipline, but they do need a calm, firm, confident owner who knows how to communicate the rules. This dog has a good memory and likes to do things to please their master, therefore training is not usually difficult. Clumber Spaniels can be used as hunting dogs. They prefer to hunt for pheasant and partridges, take naturally to retrieving, and are good water dogs. Make sure you have good chew toys for them to chew on. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Some are prone to entropion, cataracts, panosteitis (juvenile lameness), hip dysplasia and dry eyes. They tend to snore, wheeze and drool. Clumbers are prone to skin and flea allergies. Like to chew; take care not to let them swallow foreign objects. Tend to gain weight easily, do not over feed. |
| Grooming | The coat must be groomed regularly with a brush and comb. Some skilled trimming of the coat is required. The ears and eyes need to be cleaned and inspected regularly. Some of these dogs develop an irritation of the ear, but there are special lotions which can provide relief for this. If there is too much hair under the ears, clip it before the next overall trim. This breed is a heavy shedder. |
| Exercise | Young Clumbers grow very rapidly and are extremely active. As adults they slow down considerably. They need to be taken for a daily long walk. Good retrievers, they love playing fetch, however chasing after a ball cannot be their only form of exercise. Daily walks are very important to the dog’s mental health. When walking your Clumber be sure to make him heel on the lead, never in front as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the humans. Take caution on hot weather and pavement. This breed is a good swimmer. |
| Other Considerations | Clumber Spaniels will do okay in an apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are very inactive indoors and a small yard will be sufficient. They like cooler weather. |
