The ancestry of this breed of spaniel is lost in history but it is believed
that he may have been developed in France to work in denser terrain than
existing spaniels. His name comes from Clumber Park, the estate of an admirer
of the breed, the Duke of Newcastle in Nottingham, England. The breed became
fashionable in the late nineteenth century when King Edward VII bred them.
The Clumber has definite hound type features and is used for flushing his
prey. He is also a fine retriever. He is renowned for his stealth and silence
when working. Because of his slow, steady working method, he has been described
as the "retired gentleman's shooting dog." The breed was recorded
in stud books in the United States in 1878 and accepted by the American
Kennel Club when it was founded in 1884.
The Clumber is a fine tracker and retriever, albeit slower than other spaniels.
Although a very dignified breed, he also has great enthusiasm for work and
play. He is an excellent companion who is loyal and affectionate. Frequent
walks are advisable to prevent him from becoming overweight.
The Clumber's head is massive in comparison to his body structure. His skull
is flat with a large protuberance at the top (the occiput). There is a distinct
drop (stop) between the skull and muzzle. His muzzle is medium in length
with a large, square flesh-colored nose and upper lips that hang well over
the lower jaw. His dark amber eyes have a soft expression and are set beneath
heavy brows. The ears are low set, broad and triangular shaped. They hang
alongside the head. His shoulders are muscular and strong. His body is heavy
boned and set on short legs. He moves with a distinctive rolling gait which
can be maintained through a full day of hunting. The back is straight and
long in comparison to height. He has a double coat. The undercoat is dense
while the outer coat is weather resistant. It is straight and flat but not
harsh. There is feathering on the underbelly, front legs, back hocks, chest
and outer ear. The tail is usually docked and carried parallel to the ground.
Coat color is predominantly white with either lemon or orange markings that
occur mainly on the head and legs. Average height is between seventeen and
twenty inches. Average weight is between fifty five and eighty five pounds.
sglennon@prodigy.net of Connecticut writes:
Fine breed, gentle as a lamb, steady by nature, angel in a dog suit.
First the bad news. Clumber puppies can be hard to find and expensive
to buy. Many good breeders will want to interview you to be sure you are
giving their precious pups the kind of home they need. The can drool and
they shed.
BUT ... this is a breed that is so adaptable and fine. Have an estate with
many acres? Fine, but your Clumber can do just as well in an apartment in
the city or a house in the suburbs. For a large dog (50 to 85+ pounds) they
do not require much more exercise than a couple of walks a day and they
rarely bark. Of course, if you are looking for a guard dog, this isn't going
to be your choice. They are susceptible to various physical problems: hips,
eyelids and tendency to ear infections. Like many large breeds, exercise
carefully for the first year or so, no running, etc.
I read a description of this breed that said something to the effect that
the puppies look like little bears and the adults like jolly Irish washerwomen,
with hearts as warm and large as those ladies. They are truly delightful
animals. Wherever you go they are sure to be noticed as they are so beautiful,
with that snowy white coat and lovely orange or lemon markings. But if you
do have one Clumber, you'll be forever spoiled and will surely want another
and another.
Peterathouse@mail.com of the U.S. writes 12/9/00:
Although it is not the fastest dog, It is the best.
It's only two turn-offs are loose skin and slow mobility. The Clumber Spaniel
is a great house pet and great for hunter's retrieving needs. They may be
slow but, they are great with kids and other family members. They are not
very dominant and are not great watch-dogs. Their best quality is their
affection for people. Their size is great, they are not super-large nor
super-small they are perfect! Clumber Spaniels are the best dogs in the
world, no they are the best pet in the world and are up for adoption so
go and get one now. They will be great friends for the rest of their/your
life.