Clumber Spaniel – Full Breed Profile

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
Clumber Spaniel is a breed of unusual appearance and soft temperament. Read on to learn about this breed's history, grooming, and exercise needs.
Dog Breed Group:
Sporting Dogs
Height:
1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight:
55 to 85 pounds
Life Span:
12 to 12 years

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

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How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

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Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

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Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

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Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

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How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

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Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

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Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

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Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

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If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

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Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

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What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

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Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

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Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

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Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

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Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

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How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

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Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

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Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

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Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

Clumber Spaniel spent centuries hunting next to kings. Like a true companion of kings, the Clumber Spaniel is the largest of the AKC flushing spaniels.

In fact, this breed is a more rugged version of the Cocker Spaniel, although these two breeds are very different. This is a powerful bird dog of heavy bone and good posture.

They are built low with a massive head.

Males are larger compared to females, standing between 17 to 20 inches, and usually go up to 85 pounds. This small size dog was built to push through thick cover in the field.

Their coat is primarily white, with occasional lemon or orange markings. By their nature, these dogs are sweet and easygoing at home, while outside they can be relentless on the scent.

If you love training dogs, you will love this breed, since Clumber Spaniel reacts well to training. Just make sure that you have the right treats on hand.

They may be wary of strangers, so occasional barking will be present to warn you. They are also ready to spend any time swimming and fetching.

If your home is filled with children’s laugh then expect them to be the best friends, because this breed is all about children.

Quick Facts

Real name: Clumber Spaniel
Origin: England
Breed type: Sporting Dogs
Weight: 55 to 85 pounds
Height: 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 12 to 12 years
Litter Size: 2 – 8 puppies
Color: White, lemon and white, or orange and white
Coat: Straight medium-lenght double coat

Clumber Spaniel History

The Clumber Spaniel is a breed of gentle appearance that originated in France. This is flushing and retrieving spaniel known for being silent while working.

The Clumber Spaniel is a sturdy dog with a low body and strong endurance. They are great flushing spaniels with a strong hunting method. This is why they are called the “retired gentleman’s shooting dog.”

The name of this breed comes from Clumber Park, a big admirer of the breed, the Duke of Newcastle.

The Clumber Spaniel became best known at the end of the 19th century when King Edward started breeding them. This dog was one of the first breeds to be exhibited in dog shows.

Even today these dogs are great at tracking spaniels and retrievers. Overall, this is a loyal and affectionate breed with strong enthusiasm for play and work.

Clumber Spaniel Physical Appearance

The Clumber Spaniel is a long dog with a gentle expression. They have a deep chest, massive bone, and heavy brow that give them the power and endurance.

Clumber Spaniels have a massive bone structure, massive head, broad muzzle, a long and muscular neck. The tail is well feathered.

The body coat is dense and of weather-resistant texture. The coat is soft to the touch. This is a white dog with lemon color or orange color markings.

These markings are commonly seen on the ears and the face. Freckles on the legs are present and are acceptable.

Still, the body should have as few markings as possible. Gait should be easy, free, and comfortable.

Clumber Spaniel Personality

The Clumber Spaniel is a loyal and affectionate dog.

As an intelligent and independent thinker, the Clumber Spaniel is a determined dog with a strong need to work. These canines are aloof with strangers, who will engage happily with other pets.

Interestingly, they will be more aloof with strangers than other spaniels will. This breed has no tendencies toward aggression which makes them perfect perfect family dogs.

They may bark occasionally, but they are far from being prone to barking. As such they aren’t suitable to be watchdogs, but they are suitable for apartment living.

Clumber Spaniels are huge outdoors lovers. If you tend to have an active outdoor time, they will enjoy following you around.

From hiking to swimming, these gentle dogs will do their best to perform above average. They love swimming, so think about water sports for dogs as your first-choice activity.

Frequent walks should keep his weight in balance, and high-quality food should provide enough nutrients, stoping him from becoming overweight. Be careful with treats.

They are huge people-pleasers and will do their best to guilt you into serving them more treats.

As you may know already treats should be used as a reward and training tool, and not as a separate meal.

Treats can easily lead to obesity, and it is something that you want to avoid.

Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States and you want to keep your dog far from that statistics.

The Clumber Spaniel is a large size dog with short legs, and this is something to earn in mind when buying dog equipment.

Be aware that this breed drools a bit, so make sure that you have dog blankets across the furniture.

A dog bed could also help – the dog should have their space.

This is a low-slung dog which means that every walk after the rain will demand careful dry. Having a space for a dog to dry can only benefit.

House dog rules are something that should be implemented during socialization, or they will be hard to house.

Clumber Spaniel Training

Training should start as soon as you bring your Clumber Spaniel home.

Did you know that dogs are capable of mastering basic commands as of eight weeks of age? This is why it’s possible to train dogs from day one.

Use the socialization period to teach your dog basic commands, basic dog house rules, and how to behave around unfamiliar people.

Once your veterinarian gives you a green light, make sure that you start interacting with other dogs. This is also a time when going to a dog park is not only mandatory but is also desirable.

If you feel like you need help with training sessions think about puppy classes, or hire a professional dog trainer. This way you will get some valuable and professional inputs, make the training process more fun, and make a bond with your Fido stronger.

Otherwise, you should make the training session fun, constant, engaging, and packed with treats.

Use treats to reward your dog whenever he performs a trick well.

Have the right toys on hand, and don’t forget to have fun. Fun should be a big deal of your every training time.

Clumber Spaniel Exercise

Clumber Spaniel is a very active breed.

Don’t let their goofy appearance fool you, because they will not fear spending hours being active outdoors.

Luckily, they excel at many sports and enjoy almost any activity. As mentioned earlier, they are massive dog lovers.

Also, they are great in any sport that is scent-based. Teaching a recall is crucial with this breed. Why? They have an excellent nose that can easily take them into trouble.

You may notice from day one that Clumber Spaniel loves carrying objects in his mounts, which is why teaching a retrieve and swap game from puppyhood is important.

If you are adopting an adult or even a senior dog, don’t be discouraged when it comes to training.

Even an old dog can be tough new tricks.

Here is how to keep your Clumber Spaniel active:

  • Provide frequent walks during the day
  • Make walks long, up to 20-minutes
  • Allow your Clumber Spaniel to sniff around and explore
  • If you have a backyard let him exercise there
  • Master indoor games
  • Visit dog park at least one a day
  • Chasing a ball is always a good activity for your Clumber Spaniel to burn off that extra energy
  • Provide a lot of cuddles

Clumber Spaniel Grooming

Grooming is a big part of dog ownership.

To keep your dog healthy and clean providing proper care is a must. In practice, this means you should provide regular brushing, proper body care, and proper nutrition.

For example, certain foods can make issues, lead to skin infections, and so on. This is why brushing should be used to search for any sign of fleas and skin infection.

To make brushing and overall grooming an easy process, have the right grooming tools on hand.

The right tool will help you brush your Clumber in a fast and safe manner. This breed has heavy folds on the head that require regular once-overs with a damp cloth.

If you ignore this, you can expect the dog’s wrinkles to be affected by yeast infection.

As you may know already, yeast infection has a bad odor and is extremely unpleasant for the dog.

Bathing should be done when needed. Dogs have different skin than humans do, and they don’t need as much bathing.

Still, when bathing make sure that you are using only shampoos that are specially designed for dogs. Nails should be kept short by monthly trimming or grinding.

As for the coat: they don’t need a lot of trimming and their coat is easy to care for. They need a weekly brushing with a brush and a medium comb once or twice a week.

Check gums and eyes weekly for any sign of infection or possible unusual appearance.

Learn how to clean a dog’s ears and when you should do it.

If your veterinarian recommends it – brush Clumber’s teeth, just make sure that you are using toothpaste specially designed for dogs.

Clumber Spaniel Health

Clumbers are commonly described as healthy dogs.

Still, there are many factors that affect dog’ health such as:

  • Nutrition
  • Feeding style
  • Food quality
  • Exercise needs
  • External factors
  • Accidents
  • Genes

The best way to keep your Fido healthy is to provide regular veterinarian check-ups. This is the most effective and most secure way to keep your Fido healthy.

Make sure that you know how much you should feed your Clumber, how often, and with which foods.

Large dog breeds are prone to bloat conditions that may occur at any age – do research on bloat and learn how to protect your Fido for this life-threatening moment.

Always provide high-quality food and avoid feeding your Clumber after intense walks or workouts.

Is Clumber Spanies For You?

As a general rule, large breeds aren’t recommended for first time dog owners, especially if they are more active dogs. That being said, if you’re a first time dog owner, you might want a low-energy companion dog or a lap dog.

On the other hand, if you have experience as a dog owner – as a dog owner of a larger breed to be more specific, then the Clumber Spaniel is a breed to consider having.

If you want a large and heavy dog, who is a bit independent, has an unusual appearance and is a true couch potato once indoors, then a Clumber Spaniel may be the right dog for you.

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