Clumber Spaniel Dog Breed

The Clumber Spaniel is a dog whose background is not fully known. It's thought the breed comes from Alpine Spaniels crossed with Basset Hounds-- this resulting dog being later crossed with Bernese Mountain Dogs. This unique combination produces a hunting companion with both Hound and Spaniel skills. It's no secret the breed was prized as a royal hunting dog; the current theory of the Clumber's history is that a French nobleman smuggled some out of France during the French Revolution. The Duke of Newcastle ended up with some of the dogs which he renamed Clumber Spaniels after his residence "Clumber Park"; they would later become favorites of Kings Edward VII and George V. For this reason we refer to the Clumber Spaniel as an English breed. Surprisingly, due to their rarity in the U.S., the Clumber Spaniel was one of the first 10 breeds to be recognized by the AKC when it was founded in 1884. Animal Planet's Dogs 101: Clumber Spaniel calls this breed rare with only 200 registered in the United States each year! We put together a few pros and cons to help you decide whether this breed may be for you:

The Clumber is considered the stockiest Spaniel, weighing up to 85 pounds. Aesthetically, they are known for their large heads and long, thick white coats. They make excellent companions for sportsmen that hunt birds, however, they make equally wonderful family companions-- they are notoriously sweet, loving and affectionate. If you don't mind the medium-high effort that will be involved in training and grooming them, or the drool and shedding, this may be the breed for you. They are highly adaptable and quiet, making them good for apartments.

The intelligence of the Clumber is certainly not lacking, however, they are notoriously stubborn and strong-willed. Potential owners should possess a lot of patience. Clumber Spaniels require constant praise and treats, and they are sensitive to harsh words and tones.

Every piece of Clumber Spaniel information you come across will be in agreement: this is an excellent family dog. They are sweet, loving, affectionate, devoted and gentle. They most definitely will want to be treated as part of the family. These quiet dogs will be neither aggressive nor overly friendly with strangers and therefore make poor guard dogs and watch dogs.

Members of this breed have moderate exercise needs that can be met with a few daily walks. They enjoy long walks, trips to the dog park and games like fetch. Clumbers aren't going to want to go on runs/jogs with you but will happily accompany you on a hunt, hike or camping trip.

The Clumber Spaniel temperament is well known for being gentle and sweet. Although determined and energetic in the field, indoors they will be calm and dignified. Their patient, affectionate personality makes the Clumber spaniel an excellent choice for families with children. Due to their large size they should be supervised if the children are very young and unsteady on their feet. Members of this breed are are polite towards other pets and new people. They regard strangers with little interest, so they are neither guard dogs nor watch dogs. Clumbers are quiet dogs that do well in apartments if given enough outdoor exercise daily.

The breed is charming and intelligent-- they enjoy fetching and playing games. It isn't hard to keep a Clumber exercised with long walks and outdoor playtime in the yard. They may enjoy a nice hike but running/jogging is not their forte as they prefer to do things at their own speed (like every dignified nobleman).

For all the good aspects of the Clumber Spaniel, he/she will also possess a mischievous side. They are notorious counter surfers and can be very strong willed to do things they ought not to. Training will require a lot of patience combined with plenty of treats and praise. The breed is sensitive so getting frustrated easily will only cause your Clumber to more stubbornly defy you.

The following health concerns are sometimes seen in Clumber Spaniels:

• Eye problems such as entropion and ectropion affect the eye lids. Cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) are also seen occasionally.
• Ear infections are common for this breed.
• Joint issues such as hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease, and Spaniel elbow are also common. Eosinophilic panosteitis is also seen somewhat often and results in inability of a puppy to move by itself-- it manifests during months 6-12 but goes away on its own after the bones are fully formed.
• Hypothyroidism is another health concern. This is diagnosed via blood test.

• The Clumber Spaniel breed is part of the Sporting group and has produced its fair share of winners. One such Clumber Spaniel, Angus, achieved quite a bit of fame after winning a top spot at the Westminster Dog Show in 2016 (Sporting Group).
• Trickle Creek Clumber Spaniels and Etheridge Clumber Spaniels are two of the most famed breeders of the Clumber.