Clumber Spaniel: temperament, size, care and health

About the Clumber Spaniel

The Clumber Spaniel is a long, low, massive dog with a big square head, heavy brow, drooping eyes and a rolling gait. The coat is mostly white with lemon or orange markings on the head and sometimes freckling on the legs. The body is long compared to its height, and a Clumber looks closer to the ground than other spaniels while carrying far more bone.

Clumbers were developed to push steadily through heavy cover and flush game birds for hunters on foot. They work slowly, quietly and thoroughly rather than quickly. Today the breed is a rare companion for people who appreciate its sleepy, dignified manner and distinctive appearance.

Temperament and family life

A Clumber is calm, affectionate and a little aloof. It is usually mild-mannered and gentle, and bonds to its family without needing constant attention. It tends to be reserved with strangers but rarely aggressive. Most do well with respectful children, though their size and weight make them better with older kids than toddlers.

Clumbers are not clingy in the way some spaniels are, but they still like to be near people and do not do well isolated in a yard. They can be stubborn, and many snore, drool and flatulate. A young Clumber may be clownish and destructive, while an adult is often content to lie on the floor and watch the household.

Exercise and training

Exercise needs are modest compared with other sporting breeds. A daily walk and some play in a secure yard are usually enough, along with occasional longer outings. The breed enjoys sniffing and tracking and likes carrying things. It can overheat because of its heavy build and coat, so avoid hard exercise in hot weather.

Training calls for patience. Clumbers are intelligent but not eager to please, and they may simply decide a task is not worth doing. Food rewards, short sessions and a calm voice work better than pressure. Many do well in hunt tests and tracking, though they are not fast. Weight control is important, and food-motivated Clumbers gain weight easily.

Grooming and shedding

The Clumber sheds heavily all year, and a white coat shows every strand on dark furniture and clothing. Brush at least two or three times a week and daily during seasonal shedding. A pin brush and a comb reach the feathering on the chest, belly and legs.

Wipe the face, lips and eyes, since drooling and tear staining are common. The long, heavy ears need weekly cleaning and drying, and the skin folds around the eyes and lips need attention. Trim the hair on the feet and the back of the legs. Baths are needed about once a month and more often for a dog that likes mud.

Health

Because of its heavy build, the Clumber is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia and to back problems such as intervertebral disc disease. Eyelid abnormalities, both ectropion and entropion, are common and may need veterinary care. Ear infections, skin fold problems and some inherited conditions such as pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, which has a DNA test, are reported. Heat intolerance and obesity are everyday concerns. Responsible breeders test hips, elbows, eyes and the available DNA conditions. These are general points about the breed, and a veterinarian should answer questions about a particular dog.

History

The breed is generally traced to England and takes its name from Clumber Park, an estate in Nottinghamshire owned by the Duke of Newcastle. Dukes and nobles used the dogs for driven shoots and estate hunting, and the breed was associated with British royalty in the 1800s. The ancestry may include French spaniels and other heavy-bodied hunting dogs, though records are incomplete. Clumbers reached North America in the nineteenth century, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1878.

Is the Clumber Spaniel right for you?

A Clumber suits a quiet household that wants a gentle, unhurried dog and can tolerate shedding, drool and snoring. It does well with seniors and with families who keep the dog lean and cool.

It is a poor fit for athletic owners who want a running partner, for people who dislike hair and for anyone in a hot climate. The Sussex Spaniel is smaller and just as slow. The Field Spaniel is lighter and more active, and the English Springer Spaniel is a faster flushing dog with a much easier outline.