Clumber Spaniel

This medium to large-sized spaniel is sweet and gentle, with a deceptively laid-back appearance and a wicked sense of humor.

Daily Care

Grooming Tips

The Clumber’s feathered, white coat requires a moderate amount of grooming: If you want him to look pretty, bathe him once a month, and brush or comb his coat for 10 to 15 minutes, up to three times a week, to avoid tangles and remove dead hair. You should also trim his feet, ears, and feathering.
Clumbers shed at a moderate to heavy rate year-round, so buy a good vacuum cleaner; regular brushing will also reduce the amount of hair floating around your house. For additional grooming tips, consult the Clumber Spaniel Club of America’s breed information booklet.
Check the ears on a weekly basis for signs of infection, irritation, or wax build up. Cleanse regularly with a veterinarian-approved cleanser and cotton ball. Brush the teeth at least once per week to prevent tartar buildup and fight gum disease. Additionally, nails should be trimmed once per month if the dog does not wear down the toenails naturally.

Exercise Tips

Young Clumbers don’t need to be given an excessive amount of exercise because their joints and bones are still developing and putting too much pressure can cause problems later in their lives. At around 6 months old, the amount of exercise a young Clumber is given can be gradually increased. With this said, Clumbers are not high energy dogs and like to take things at their own pace which means a good thirty-minute, the interesting walk would suit these dogs right down to the ground.
Being very intelligent dogs, Clumbers do need to be given a lot of mental stimulation to prevent boredom setting in. Older dogs, when they reach their golden years really do benefit from being stimulated because it helps keep their cognitive function more finely tuned. If left to their own devices for long periods of time, these laid back dogs can develop some unwanted behavioral issues with separation anxiety being high on the list.
With this said, Toller puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs because this puts too much pressure on their still growing joints and limbs.

Feeding Tips

If you get a Clumberpuppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it’s important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy’s diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don’t develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it’s best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It’s best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it’s good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It’s also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog’s life by several years so it’s important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Like many large breeds, Saint Bernard can experience bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach distends and twists. The causes of bloat aren’t fully understood, but experts agree that multiple, small meals per day and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes may help reduce the chances of it happening.

Health Tips

Clumbers have a life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years, but they are prone to health problems which includedysplasia,skin allergies,ectropion,entropion, and a tendency to becomeobese. These are not high energy dogs, and they move at a pretty slow pace, but they do require daily walks to keep their weight under control and to alleviate boredom.

Trainability

The Clumber is steady and reliable, thorough and tenacious. These traits can sometimes make them a challenge to train because they tend to stop and think things through before deciding to do them. Keep training sessions interesting to keep their attention on learning instead of searching for something more fun to do. Most will require a reason to do as they are told. They do not take well to a heavy-handed trainer, however.
Puppies should be properly socialized to develop the amiable, outgoing personality that is characteristic of the breed. They’re successful in performance and companion events such as earthdog, barn hunt, obedience, and agility.

History

There are several theories regarding the origin of the Clumber Spaniel. One states that it was developed in France by the French Duc de Noailles. Threatened by revolution, he transferred his dogs to the Duke of Newcastle, his close friend in England. The Duke’s estate, Clumber Park, undoubtedly was the source of the breed’s name. Some believe that crosses with the heavy Alpine Spaniel andBasset Houndhelped produce this breed. Due to his heavy build, he is slower at his work of upland hunting than his lighter-boned spaniel cousins.
Clumbers were on the scene for the very first British dog shows, held in the mid-1800s. They were introduced to America, by way of Canada, around the same time. Careful studbooks were kept on the breed in America even before the AKC was established, and the Clumber was among the AKC’s 10 charter breeds when the organization was founded in 1884.