This Lovable Big Ol’ Lug of a Dog Will Win Your Heart!

Families with lots of children, singles, or couples will enjoy having the Clumber Spaniel for a pet, a big old ‘lug’ of a dog that’s as happy as a couch potato watching television with you as it is romping outdoors. Affectionate, loyal, and loving, this breed is kid-friendly and ideal for families with other pets.

History

While it's clear the Clumber Spaniel was designed to be low to the ground for hunting purposes, the history of the breed is a bit clouded. It is believed the breed was created by gamekeepers and hunters for the purpose of being functional and effective, able to stealthily search through the underbrush when on the hunt.

The Clumber Spaniel's name is derived from the Duke of Newcastle's estate in Nottinghamshire, England, located at Clumber Park. The breed was first developed in the late eighteenth century, and early in the nineteenth century, although pictures of these early breeds indicate the dogs were a bit less bone-dense with smaller heads than today‘s Clumber Spaniel. Some theories hold that this breed was a result of the breeding of Basset Hounds with the now extinct Alpine Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees, or Pyrenean Mountain Dog. However, others contend that the Clumber Spaniel descends from an old type of Bleinheim Spaniel associated with the King Charles breed of Spaniel.

William Mansell, gamekeeper for the Duke of Newcastle, is credited with developing the breed and improving upon the Clumber Spaniel, which was first shown in England in 1859. With fewer than 300 new registrations per year, the breed, which is classified by the AKC as a member of the “sporting” group, is recognized by the UK Kennel Club as a Vulnerable Native Breed.

Appearance

If you're looking for a larger-size pet, the Clumber Spaniel is characterized by a heavy bone structure and grows to be rather large as an adult. With a broad chest sporting an apron of longer hair, the male will generally weigh about 70 to 85 pounds as an adult, and stand up to 20 inches tall. The female Clumber typically weighs between 55 and 70 pounds when grown, standing approximately 17 to 19 inches at the withers.

Rectangular in shape, the Clumber Spaniel stands low to the ground but tends to appear quite powerful. Usually white in color with lemon, brown, or orange markings, the breed generally has amber-colored eyes and a nose that is light brown or flesh-colored. The Clumber Spaniel's coat is medium-length, dense, straight, and weather-resistant. Owners will no doubt fall in love with this dog, the largest of the spaniel breeds, who often puts on "aristocratic" airs.

Temperament

Loving, playful, and even a clown at times, the Clumber Spaniel is one of the most mild-mannered dogs you will find. Often described as a couch potato when kept indoors, your pet loves to romp and play outdoors – but if you're looking for a jogging partner or a dog that's highly active and energetic, you may want to consider another breed.

Clumber Spaniels possess good stamina and are good in the field for those who hunt, but are a bit slower than other spaniels. As puppies, the breed makes an ideal pet for families with small children, as they're highly curious and love to play and romp. While they do not make good guard dogs, Clumbers can be aloof with strangers, but as soon as they become familiar they will be your guests' best pal. If you're looking for a pet who's playful, entertaining, totally lovable and eager to please, consider a Clumber Spaniel puppy. Your puppy will be fairly easy to train as long as you are patient, enthusiastic, and offer positive reinforcement.

Living Environment

Clumber Spaniels can adapt to almost any living environment, though they are not highly active indoors. A small yard is ideal considering the breed's moderate activity level. Those who live in a small frequent exercise. This somewhat lethargic breed is susceptible to easily gaining weight, so regular exercise is important.

Health

With a life expectancy of approximately 10 to 12 years, the Clumber Spaniel is prone to various health issues which include canine obesity, skin allergies, eye problems, and hip dysplasia, a hereditary condition. Spinal disc herniation is another condition you should watch for, and occurs when the intervertebral disc ruptures or bulges into the area where the spinal cord resides, resulting in pressure on the cord which can cause loss of sensation, leg paralysis, and other issues. Entropion and Ectropion are conditions in which the eyelid may roll inward or outward, resulting in corneal irritation, abnormal exposure of the eye, and even infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis.

Grooming

Because of its light color, your pet may need to be bathed on a more frequent basis than other breeds. Just be sure to use a gentle shampoo designed for dogs, and dry well after bathing. Clumber Spaniels shed quite heavily, and need brushing on a daily basis. This will help remove loose hair and debris from your pet's coat, while keeping your home cleaner if your dog stays indoors. You may want to trim the hair around the feet, tail, or back legs as well.

This breed's ears tend to hang low, so it's also important to check for wax build-up, bacteria, or signs of infection or irritation. Clean your pet's ears occasionally using a solution approved by your veterinarian.

References

Clumber Spaniels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clumber_Spaniel.

Retrieved December 1, 2013

Clumber Spaniel Temperament What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em.

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy. com/reviews/clumberspaniels.html.

Retrieved December 1, 2013

Get to know the Clumber Spaniel.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/clumber_spaniel/index.cfm.

Retrieved December 1, 2013

Clumber Spaniel - Appearance & Grooming.

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/Clumber- Spaniel/Appearance.aspx.

Retrieved December 1, 2013

Clumber Spaniel Breed Information.

http://www.dogs-and-dog-advice.com/clumber-spaniel.html.

Retrieved December 1, 2013