Clumber Spaniel? Don’t you mean Cocker Spaniel?
Nope not at all! And this is the problem with this breed, he is often “over shadowed” by his more “famous” similarly named cousin!
But that that’s not…
Going to be the case in this article. Because in this article, we want to “shed” some light on this remarkable dog breed so that if you are currently in the “market” for a new dog, and you’re considering adopting an Spaniel, perhaps you might consider getting a Clumber Spaniel and stand out from the crowd.
Particularly if you’re looking…
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 breed to be a hunter by birth, he is a true companion by nature. Earning him the nickname, “the retired gentleman’s Spaniel”.
But just because…
We love these dogs, doesn’t mean that they’ll automatically be a good fit for you! This is why in this article, we wanted to take a moment a discuss what it might be like to own a Clumber Spaniels 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 right 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 the Spaniel breeds out there, they have been around for quite a while, since the 1700’s in fact.
It was during this 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’s estate located in Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, England.
It was here…
That the breed began to be referred to as a “Clumber Spaniel” and also where he began to become appreciated for his rather 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!
Clumber Spaniel Characteristics
Historically these are the largest of the Spaniels, and legend has it they are descendants of the now extinct Alpine Spaniel that was cross bred with Basset Hounds. So, it’s safe to say that if you do choose to adopt a Clumber Spaniel, chances are, he’s going to be a pretty LARGE dog by Spaniel standards.
That said however…
Over the last few hundred years the “public” in general have wanted their Spaniels to be small, 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” Clumber 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…
Can be lemon, white or tan, and they often have markings around the nose and eyes on a predominantly white background. They’ll also have a rough, thick coat that will need daily brushing and, when combined with his excessive drooling, it’s safe to say that this dog may not be the “best” indoor dog, particularly if you’re a bit “anal” about cleanliness!
This combined with the fact…
That 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 being around, chances are, you won’t even notice how much time you’re putting in.
Clumber Spaniel temperament?
Now we just finished talking about how your Clumber Spaniel may end up slobbering all over the place and how you’re going to need to spend quite a bit a time maintaining his coat, so it only makes sense that we talk about why someone would want to deal with these “inconveniences”.
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 put up with 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 dog for a reason!
Although not boisterous…
He will still enjoy (need) his regular walks… but the word here is ‘walks’. He is not 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 the breed for you. But, if you’re looking for a “buddy” that will be waiting for you each and every morning to take a stroll with a cup of coffee in your hand, you would be hard pressed to find a better companion.
Clumber Spaniel obedience training
As a general rule of thumb, what you’re typically going to find is that most Clumber Spaniels make great students. Their intelligence combined with their desire to make their owner happy typically leads to positive results when combined with a training program focused on positive reinforcement.
Which is why…
For the “best” results, we here at IndulgeYourPet advise any and all Clumber Spaniel owners to be sure to enroll their Clumber Spaniel into an obedience class right away so that before your “Gentleman’s Spaniel” is an unruly 70 pound best, you’ll have a firm foundation in place.
Is the Clumber Spaniel dog breed a healthy one?
Surprisingly, given the fact that this breed has been “around” for centuries and has been rather “narrowly” breed within rather small communities, the Clumber Spaniel breed as a whole is actually a pretty health dog breed!
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’re pretty much always going to see an increased risk for certain 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 on their new loved one.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, of course not. But until you’re familiar with what these policies will and won’t cover, and until you know how much it might cost you to insure your pet, how will you know for sure if a pet insurance policy isn’t right for you?
We don’t think…
It’s possible to truly know for sure. This is why we decided to write our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that our readers can quickly determine for themselves if it makes sense to ensure their loved one.
