Clumber Spaniel? Don’t you mean Cocker Spaniel?
Nope, not at all! And this is the problem with this breed; he is often “overshadowed” by his more “famous” similarly named cousin! But that’s going to be the case in this article. In this article, we want to “shed” some” light on this remarkable dog breed so that if you are currently in the “mark for”a new dog and you are considering adopting a Spaniel, perhaps you might consider getting a Clumber Spaniel and stand out from the crowd.
Particularly if you’ryou’reing…
For a dog with a big cheesy smile and a relaxed, laid-back regard for life, that means that even though he may have been originally bred to be a hunter by birth, he is a faithful companion by nature. He is earning the nickname “the “retired gentleman ‘ siel.”
But” Just because we love these dogs doesn’t mean they’ll be a good fit for you! This is why, in this article, we wanted to take a moment to discuss what it might be like to own a Clumber Spaniel so that if you ever get a chance to own one, you won’t be disappointed if you do six months later!
So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Clumber Spaniel Fast Facts
Country of Origin: England
Original Purpose: Bird flushing and retrieving
Height: 17 to 20 inches tall
Weight: 55 to 85 pounds
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Dog Breed Classification: Sporting Group
Origin of the Clumber Spaniel
As one of the oldest Spaniel breeds, these guys also tend to be the largest or “stockiest” as well.” You see, while these guys may not be the most “popular” “of all Spaniel breeds out there, they have been around for quite a while, since the 1700s. Dur1700’shis time, France was in the midst of a revolution, the French Revolution, which inspired the Duc de Noailles of France to move his Spaniel kennel from France to the Duke of Newcastle’Newcastle’s Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, England.
Here, the breed began to be referred to as a “Clumber S” angel,” and where” he started to be appreciated for his relatively slow and steady nature, combined with a keen sense of smell.
Clumber Spaniels in America
The Clumber was taken to America by an officer stationed at Nova Scotia during the 18th Century. As a result, they became one of the first ten breeds to be recognized by the American Kennel Club – which makes him a bit famous, considering how world-renowned this organization is!
Physical Characteristics
Historically, these are the largest of the Spaniels, and legend has it they are descendants of the now-extinct Alpine Spaniel cross-bred with Basset Hounds. So, it’s safe to say that if you adopt a Clumber Spaniel, chances are, he will be a pretty LARGE dog by Spaniel standards. However, over the last few hundred years, the “public” i” genre”l have wanted their Spaniels to be minor, and, as a result, even these BIG guys tend to be a bit smaller than their forefathers and now “generally” stand no”taller than 20 inches.
In fact…
According to the Breed Standard, the Clumber Spaniel should not weigh more than 85 pounds as a large male dog. And while the new “modern” C”number “may be a bit smaller than his original ancestors, modern-day Clumbers remain very strongly built dogs that are ideal for sweeping through the marshes to retrieve prey and retain that familiar Spaniel face shape that makes these sporting dogs so distinctive as Spaniels.
Clumber Spaniel coats…
They can be lemon, white, or tan, often with markings around the nose and eyes on a predominantly white background. They’ll a rough, thick coat that will need daily brushing, and when combined with his excessive drooling, it’s safe it say that this dog may not be the “best” and” or d”g, particularly if you’re you’re” abo”t cl” manliness!
This, combined with the fact…
These dogs will require a thorough brushing at least two or three times a week and probably a visit to a professional groomer every couple of months; it’s fair to say that the Clumber Spaniel does rank a bit high on the grooming requirements list. The good news is that because he is such a “joy” to work “with and be around, chances are, you won’t even know how much time you’re putting in.
Personality and Temperament
Now we just finished talking about how your Clumber Spaniel may end up drooling all over the place and how you’re going to need to spend quite a bit of time maintaining his coat, so it only makes sense that we talk about why someone would want to deal with these “inconvenient”nces.”
And the” answer to this question is simple….
These dogs are great companion animals. The Clumber Spaniel has a playful personality but not a boisterous one. He is the epitome of slow and steady and can endure endless abuse from the kiddies in his pack. The Clumber Spaniel Temperament is notoriously patient- after all, this sweet old soul gets called the retired gentleman’s reason!
Although not boisterous…
He will still enjoy (need) his regular walks… but the word here is ‘walks.’ He isn’t the type of dog who can run endlessly for hours as they are prone to overheating – especially if you live in a warm climate. So, if you are looking for a jogging companion, this is not your breed. But, if you’re looyou’reor a “buddy” who” will”be waiting for you every morning to stroll with a cup of coffee, you would be hard-pressed to find a better companion.
Clumber Spaniel obedience training
As a general rule of thumb, you’re type you’re going to find that most Clumber Spaniels make great students. Their intelligence and desire to make their owner happy naturally lead to positive results when combined with a training program focused on positive reinforcement.
Which is why…
For the “best “lists, “we here at IndulgeYourPet advise any Clumber Spaniel owners to be sure to enroll their Clumber Spaniel into an obedience class right away so that before your “Gentleman” is an un”ugly 70-pound best, you’ll have a foundation in place.
Is the Clumber Spaniel dog breed a healthy one?
Surprisingly, given that this breed has been “around” f”r cent”ries and has been somewhat “narrowly” bred wit” in relatively small communities, the Clumber Spaniel breed is a pretty healthy dog! And while they are prone to a few health concerns, such as:
- Cardiomyopathy,
- Entropion,
- And hip dysplasia,
All truth be told, any time you decide to purchase a “purebred” animal, “you’ll always have an increased risk for specific medical conditions inherently associated with that breed. This is why, as a general rule of thumb, we here at IndulgeYourPet always like to have all of our readers at least take a few minutes and consider purchasing a pet insurance policy for their new loved one.
Now, will a pet insurance policy be suitable for everyone?
No, of course not. But until you know what these policies will and won’t cover, until you know how much it might cost to insure your pet, how will you know if a pet insurance policy isn’t right?
We don’t think it is possible to know for sure, honestly. This is why we decided to write our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that our readers can quickly determine if it makes sense to ensure their loved one.
